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John Honey Russell(D. 1973) was an American basketball player and coach born in Brooklyn, New York. He turned professional after his sophomore year of high school, playing for numerous early 20th century pro teams, including many in the American Basketball League. His career included over 3,200 pro games (a number that would take a modern NBA player 30-40 years to equal). In addition, he coached and managed for over 30 years in all of the professional leagues in existence during his career. He was the first coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics (1946-1948). He also coached at Seton Hall University. In 1964, Russell was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Cleveland Rosenblums (also known as the Rosies) were an American basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio that was one of the original members of the American Basketball League. The Rosenblums played in the league between 1925–1930, winning three championships before dropping out.
In the inaugural 1925–1926 season of the American Professional Basketball League, the Rosenblums compiled a record of 23–7. Their leading scorers were John "Honey" Russell (216 points), Nat Hickey (198 points), and Carl Husta (158 points). On April 9, 1926, the Rosenblums won the ABL's first championship by defeating the Brooklyn Arcadians by a score of 23–22 in the final game of the league's first championship series played at Brooklyn's 71st Infantry Regiment Armory. The championship was decided in a best-of-five series, and the Rosenblums won in three consecutive games. The Rosenblums won the first and second games at Cleveland's Public Hall by scores of 36–33 and 37–21.
Historic Original 1926 TYPE 1 photograph (measuring 6.75” x 9.75”) of Honey Russell. The offered image was also taken by the greatest Sports Photographer of the era, Louis Van Oeyen. Condition is beautiful and there is a bold Van Oeyen stamp on the back!
PSA/DNA LOA for the TYPE 1 photo
Item: 12548
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