Dick Ricketts

Dick Ricketts
Personal information
Born	December 4, 1933; Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Died	March 6, 1988 (aged 54); Rochester, New York
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school	Pottstown (Pottstown, Pennsylvania)
College	Duquesne (1951–1955)
NBA draft	1955: 1st round, 1st overall pick
	Selected by the St. Louis Hawks
Playing career	1955–1958
Position	Power forward / Center
Number	12, 15, 24
Career history
1955–1956	St. Louis Hawks
1956–1958	Rochester / Cincinnati Royals
Career highlights and awards
	Consensus first-team All-American (1955); Consensus second-team All-American (1954); Third-team All-American – NEA (1953); No. 12 retired by Duquesne;
Career NBA statistics
Points	1,974 (9.3 ppg)
Rebounds	1,337 (6.3 rpg)
Assists	447 (2.1 apg)
	Stats at NBA.com
	Stats at Basketball Reference

Richard James Ricketts, Jr. (December 4, 1933 – March 6, 1988) was an American professional basketball player.

A 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) forward from Duquesne University, Ricketts was selected by the St. Louis Hawks with the first pick of the 1955 NBA draft. He played three seasons in the NBA with the Hawks and the Rochester and Cincinnati Royals and scored 1,974 career points. Ricketts, a strong 225-pounder, was drafted #1 overall by the NBA Hawks because he was also property of the Major-League baseball Cardinals. Pitching largely for the Rochester Red Wings, Ricketts became part of that NBA franchise there as well. When the team relocated to Cincinnati, the forward/center played the 1957–58 season there. Ricketts was affected by the tragic injury of teammate Maurice Stokes in March, 1958 and retired from pro basketball following that season.

Ricketts was also signed as an amateur free agent pitcher by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1955. In 1959 he appeared in 12 games for the Cardinals, including 9 starts. He had a 1–6 record, with a 5.82 ERA in 552⁄3 innings. His brother Dave Ricketts played six years in the major leagues.

External links

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