There may have been no more famous a wooden floor than the famed parquet of the venerable Boston Garden that was home of the Boston Celtics from 1946-1995. Originally used in the old Boston Arena, the floor was then moved to the Boston Garden in 1952, where it was used in 16 NBA titles and even survived another move to the now-named TD Garden. This floor served as the team's sole home court, bedeviling visiting clubs with its mysterious "dead spots" that could suck the bounce right out of a dribble, a quirk that favored the home team's familiarity in much the same way Boston’s Green Monster does for the Red Sox.

One of the most famous plays in Celtics history was Bill Russell’s block in Game 7 of the 1957 NBA Finals, that helped Boston win their first title. With Boston up by a point, St. Louis’ Jack Coleman found himself open for what appeared to everyone in the building as an easy go-ahead layup. Out of nowhere came Hall of Famer Bill Russell, who swatted Coleman’s shot off the backboard. With no video of the play, the legendary raspy voice of Celtics’ announcer Johnny Most screamed “Blocked by Russell! Blocked by Russell! He came from nowhere!”

Offered here is the very piece of Boston Garden parquet floor where Russell “came from nowhere”. This piece of green-painted wood comes directly from the Boston Celtics and is displayed in a special display frame. There are six planks painted green and on the right of the display is a sign that reads “THE HISTORIC BOSTON GARDEN PARQUET” with the Celtics’ logo above. A black plate printed in gold reads “Bill Russell Block Leads Celtics to First Championship Game 7 1957 NBA Finals”. Adding to this already historic piece is the signature of the Hall of Famer that made this floor piece a part of Celtics’ history – Bill Russell, who signed his name in black fine-tipped marker and added the inscription “The Block 1957”. This comes with a COA from the Boston Celtics certifying the authenticity of this piece, plus an additional LOA from the Fleet Center/New Boston Garden Corporation certifying that this was the piece of parquet floor where Bill Russell blocked Coleman’s shot and that Russell signed this floor.

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