BOSTON -- Just as the Red Sox were getting set to face the Brewers on Sunday afternoon, it was announced that Bill Russell, an iconic winner for the Boston Celtics and a civil rights activist, died at the age of 88.

The Red Sox held a moment of silence a few minutes before the first pitch as an image of Russell from his playing days was displayed on the jumbotron with his name and life span (1934-2022) displayed.

The legendary center, who wore No. 6 for the Boston Celtics, won an astounding 11 NBA championships in his 13 seasons (1956-69). In his final two seasons and championships, he was player/coach, making him the first Black coach in NBA history.

Russell also won a pair of NCAA titles for the University of San Francisco and an Olympic gold medal in 1956.

Though his game was basketball, Russell transcended sports in Boston and around the country.

At the home opener in 2005, when the Red Sox celebrated their first World Series championship since 1918, Russell joined fellow Boston sports legend Bobby Orr and Patriots players Tedy Bruschi and Richard Seymour for a joint first pitch to celebrate Boston’s winning tradition.

Russell returned for another first pitch at the 2016 home opener, again joined by Orr, and also Ty Law of the Patriots. This time the occasion was David Ortiz’s final Fenway opener as an active player.

Russell also had another connection to baseball. He considered Hall of Famer Frank Robinson a lifelong friend. The two went to high school together. When Robinson died in 2019, Russell sent out a heartfelt tweet. Similar to Russell's historic first in the NBA, Robinson was the first Black manager in the Majors.