News

Gene Conley, MLB and NBA champion, dies at 86

Posted July 05, 2017 7:00 am

The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) - Gene Conley, one of the only players in history to win championships in two major professional sports, has died. He was 86.

The Boston Red Sox, for whom Conley played for from 1961-63, say he died Tuesday.

Conley helped pitch the Milwaukee Braves to a World Series championship in 1957 and won three NBA titles with the Celtics. Otto Graham won championships in the NFL and the NBL, a precursor to the NBA.

Conley was a right-hander and three-time All-Star who spent 11 years in baseball with four teams. He was selected by the Celtics in the 1952 draft and, after spending most of the next six years playing only baseball, he returned to the NBA in 1958 and won three consecutive titles.

Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Conley and his wife, Katie, established the Foxboro Paper Company in Foxborough, Massachusetts. They had three children and seven grandchildren.

FILE - This Jan. 13, 1960 file photograph shows Boston Celtics forward Gene Conley, right, defending against St. Louis Hawks Clyde Lovellette (34) during a basketball game in Boston. Conley, who died July 4, 2017 at the age of 86, played for both the Celtics and as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. (AP Photo/File) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers Nation and World News Obituaries

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.