Date of Birth

Date of Death

Birth Name

Mini Biography

Born to Jewish parents, Most began his career in the 1940s mentored by Marty Glickman. He called road games for baseball's New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers, and football's New York Giants and Army. In 1953, Boston Celtics owner Walter Brown and Red Auerbach tapped him to replace Curt Gowdy as the team's radio play-by-play man "high above court-side" as Most always described his perch at Boston Garden. Unlike his great contemporary Chick Hearn - who criticized his Los Angeles Lakers when he felt warranted - Most never pretended to be objective: his Celtics were near-saints who could do no wrong (even when they did), and anyone not wearing the green were the scum of the Earth (especially the Lakers)! His praise of Michael Jordan's efforts against the C's in a playoff series was a rare exception -- all His Airness had to do was score 63 points! Critics blasted Most for being a "homer," but the Celtics fans loved him for it. A life-long smoker, Most was forced to retire due to illness.

Spouse

Trade Mark

Gravel voice.

Trivia

Postumously awarded the prestigous Curt Gowdy Media Award in 1993 by the Trustees of the Basketball Hall of Fame for his contribution to basketball. Ironically, Most replaced Gowdy as the Celtics' play-by-play announcer.

Honored with the permanent installation at Boston Garden of his microphone, silver-plated and encased in a Celtic-green frame, to the facade of the radio booth, the vantage point Most always described as "high above courtside." [3 December 1990]

The radio voice of the NBA's Boston Celtics (1953-1990).

He and coach Red Auerbach are the only two people who were with the Celtics organization for all 16 of its NBA titles.

Announced his retirement due to health problems. [10 October 1990]

Inducted into the media category of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame at the University of Rhode Island (4 October 2002).

And maybe Johnny Most’s mic.

The Lost Memoirs Of Johnny Most