Harry Boykoff
Encyclopedia
Harry J. Boykoff was a professional American basketball
player. During his career he was often referred to as "Heshie", Big Hesh" and "Big Boy". He stood 6'10" (2.083 m) tall.
.
He played for the Waterloo Hawks
(1949–50), Boston Celtics
and Tri-Cities Blackhawks
(1950–51) in the National Basketball Association
for a total of 109 games.
In a 1947 game at Madison Square Garden
, while playing for St John's, he scored 54 points, more than the combined total of the opposing team.
While playing for the Celtics, he was the highest paid NBA player, at around $15,000 per year.
In his 1948–49 season for Waterloo, Boykoff's shooting average (41.3%) was the fourth-highest in the league.
He became so proficient at blocking shots that because of his play, the rules of the game were changed to prevent shots being blocked on their way down toward the basket (goaltending
).
Boykoff led St John's to the 1948 National Invitation Tournament
championship. He was awarded the MVP Award
, and was named on several All-American teams
. He received a gold basketball emblematic of his selection on the All-America basketball team appearing in The Sporting News, a national sports newspaper.
Later in life Boykoff appeared in films and television shows such as Star Trek
, Frasier
, Town & Country
, The Crew, on McDonald's cups and commercials
, and a few others.
Boykoff died in California at age 78, a victim of lung cancer
.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. During his career he was often referred to as "Heshie", Big Hesh" and "Big Boy". He stood 6'10" (2.083 m) tall.
Basketball career
Boykoff played college basketball for St. John's University (New York City)St. John's University (New York City)
St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant...
.
He played for the Waterloo Hawks
Waterloo Hawks
The Waterloo Hawks were a National Basketball League and National Basketball Association team based in Waterloo, Iowa. The Hawks remain the only sports franchise ever based in Iowa from any of the Big Four Leagues.- Franchise history :...
(1949–50), Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
and Tri-Cities Blackhawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
(1950–51) in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
for a total of 109 games.
In a 1947 game at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, while playing for St John's, he scored 54 points, more than the combined total of the opposing team.
While playing for the Celtics, he was the highest paid NBA player, at around $15,000 per year.
In his 1948–49 season for Waterloo, Boykoff's shooting average (41.3%) was the fourth-highest in the league.
He became so proficient at blocking shots that because of his play, the rules of the game were changed to prevent shots being blocked on their way down toward the basket (goaltending
Goaltending
In basketball, goaltending is the violation of interfering with the ball when it is on its way to the basket and it is in its downward flight, entirely above the rim and has the possibility of entering the basket, and not touching the rim...
).
Boykoff led St John's to the 1948 National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
championship. He was awarded the MVP Award
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
, and was named on several All-American teams
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
. He received a gold basketball emblematic of his selection on the All-America basketball team appearing in The Sporting News, a national sports newspaper.
Personal
Even with his outstanding record, Boykoff remained humble. He was quoted as saying:- I'm not an athlete, I'm just a big guy and a lucky one.
Later in life Boykoff appeared in films and television shows such as Star Trek
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
, Frasier
Frasier
Frasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier stars...
, Town & Country
Town & Country (film)
Town & Country is a 2001 film starring Goldie Hawn, Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton and Garry Shandling and directed by Peter Chelsom. It is a romantic comedy in which Beatty plays New York City architect Porter Stoddard, with Keaton as his wife and Hawn and Shandling as their best friends. It holds...
, The Crew, on McDonald's cups and commercials
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
, and a few others.
Boykoff died in California at age 78, a victim of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
.
External links
- http://www.jewsinsports.org/profile.asp?sport=basketball&ID=141
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE4DF1131F936A25757C0A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2