On this day in Boston Celtics history in 1952, the Celtics tipped off against the (then) Fort. Wayne (Indiana) Pistons (now, Detroit) at midnight in a contest that had been billed as the “Milkman’s Special” in an attempt to sell the event’s late start time as a plus.
The name Milkman’s Special alludes to the very early (or late, depending on your point of view) hours kept in that now-archaic profession. It was a fitting one for a contest that began after a late-night Ice Follies skating exhibition held at the old Boston Garden. The Celtics would win the affair 88-67, with Boston legend Bob Cousy leading the team with 24 points.
Big man “Easy” Ed Macaulay also added 15 points, “Bones” McKinney a dozen, and Chuck Cooper 10 more.