Here are four facts about two Boston sports franchises:
- The Boston Celtics became the first NBA team to ever draft a Black player when, in 1950, a Jewish head coach named Red Auerbach selected Chuck Cooper 14th overall.
- The Boston Bruins became the first NHL team to ever feature a Black player when, in 1958, Willie O’Ree debuted in a game against the Montreal Canadiens.
- The Boston Celtics became the first team in NBA history to start 5 Black players when, in 1964, they fielded a lineup of Bill Russell, Sam Jones, Tom Sanders, K.