On this day in Boston Celtics history, small forward Frankie Sanders was born in Dayton, Ohio back in 1957. Sanders had been a college star who averaged 26 points and ten rebounds per game when he played for Southern University and was picked up with the 20th overall pick of the 1978 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs.
Something of a tragic story, Sanders trashed what looked to be a promising career with substance abuse, effectively parting his way out of the NBA. This was likely a major factor behind the poor play (6 points and 2.7 boards per game).
This led the Spurs to waive the rookie just 22 games into his first season in the league.
The Celtics picked him up, and he finished the season with Boston, playing 24 games and averaging 5.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game — not enough to warrant keeping him on in their eyes.
They did manage to parlay his contract into a second-round pick via the Indiana Pacers, who signed him but ultimately cut him before the regular season.
It is also the date of the lowest score the Celtics ever held an opponent to, a 49-43 win in 1947 in their inaugural season against the now-defunct Pittsburgh Ironmen.
Charlie Hoefer led Boston with just 11 points in the low-scoring affair, and Coulby Gunther the Ironmen with 14.
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