A TRIBUTE TO RED AUERBACH, INSCRIBED BY BILL RUSSELL

RUSSELL, Bill with STEINBERG, Alan. Red and Me: My Coach, My Lifelong Friend. (New York): Harper, (2009). Octavo, original black and green paper boards, original dust jacket. $400.

First edition of basketball legend and civil rights icon Bill Russell's poignant account of his friendship with coach Red Auerbach, inscribed by Russell: "To Wilt / Best wishes / Bill Russell."

Hall-of-Famer Bill Russell "was the smartest player ever to play the game and the epitome of a team leader. But in order for him to fulfill his brilliant potential, he needed a coach flexible enough to learn from him and insightful enough to treat him with respect and candor. In Red Auerbach, Russell found his partner, and over 13 years they won 11 N.B.A. championships… On the subject of his love of Red Auer?bach and his Celtic teammates, [Russell]'s loud and clear." (New York Times). Illustrated with eight pages of black-and-white photographs. Flyer for bookstore signing event laid in.

A fine inscribed copy.