Frank V. Ramsey
Basketball publications describe Frank Ramsey as a confident, cerebral player who enjoyed pressure-filled situations and always excelled in the clutch. That description appropriately fit a player who, as a talented sixth man, could have started for many NBA teams but was an integral part of the Celtics dynasty in the 1960s not as a starter but as the first player off the bench. As a collegian, Ramsey starred at the University of Kentucky under Hall of Fame coach Adolph Rupp where he was known as the "Kentucky Colonel" and was a three-time All-Southeastern Conference selection. Ramsey led Kentucky to a 32-2 record in 1951 and a perfect 25-0 season in 1954. As a pro, Ramsey averaged 13.4 points a game, and along with coach Red Auerbach, invented and popularized the sixth man role, igniting a Celtics team that featured Hall of Famers Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, and Tom Heinsohn.
