Dick Ricketts

Dick Ricketts
Personal information
Born (1933-12-04)December 4, 1933
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Died March 6, 1988(1988-03-06) (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 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
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
19561958 Rochester / Cincinnati Royals
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 1,974 (9.3 ppg)
Rebounds 1,337 (6.3 rpg)
Assists 447 (2.1 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

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 5523 innings. His brother Dave Ricketts played six years in the major leagues.


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