By P.J. Kinsella
The first few dates of a relationship can sometimes dissolve from the memory bank. But for one couple, on March 2, 1962, one of their first dates was more than memorable - it was historic.
“Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game was one of my parents’ first dates,” said Todd Tilford.
For Todd’s father, a lifelong dairy farmer, attending games was nothing out of the ordinary. Growing up in Eastern Pennsylvania, he was a diehard fan of all Philadelphia teams. Although he ultimately became a more fervent fan of the 76ers, in 1962 his basketball team was the Philadelphia Warriors.
Two seasons earlier, the Warriors lineup featured a 7’1” rookie named Wilt Chamberlain, who would go on to average an astonishing 37.6 points, 27.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 72 games, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
So when Todd’s parents attended the game on March 2 at Hershey Sports Arena in Hershey, PA, against the New York Knicks, they knew they’d be witnessing a superstar. What they didn’t know was that “Wilt the Stilt” was about to put on the greatest scoring performance in the history of the NBA.
As he did with any sporting event he attended, Todd’s father bought a program to accompany the ticket he already had in his back pocket.
“Any game my dad attended, he would keep the program and always keep score,” said Tilford.
Todd Tilford's father meeting Wilt Chamberlain and having him sign the program from his 100-point game on March 2, 1962
With Chamberlain scoring at an otherworldly pace, Todd’s father realized that this was not going to look like an ordinary scorecard.
“As the game progressed, the markings on his score sheet were running outside of the margins,” said Tilford.
By the end of the game, Todd Tilford’s parents not only realized they’d be going on another date, they realized they had witnessed something that probably would never be done again.
The 100 points remain a single-game scoring record, one that has never been seriously threatened. In this untelevised classic in front of a scant crowd of 4,124, Chamberlain shot 36 of 63 from the field and knocked down 28 of 32 free throws, leading the charge for his Philadelphia Warriors over the New York Knickerbockers 169-147.
Years later, Todd’s father got Chamberlain’s signature on the 23-page program at a Philly card show. Among the thousands of people who came to meet the scoring legend, the elder Tilford presented his historic program. Wilt stopped, appearing somewhat surprised, and said, “Wow, I haven’t seen one of these in a long time. Do you mind if I look through it?”
Then along the cover in marker, he signed “Wilt Chamberlain 13,” denoting his jersey number. The scorecard, which appears on Page 13, is scored, albeit incorrectly, 169-146.
“Although my dad had a very large card collection, he was always most excited to show off his signed Wilt Chamberlain 100-point game program and ticket stub,” says Tilford.
The mezzanine-level ticket from Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game at the Hershey Sports Arena in Hershey, PA
After being in the family for more than sixty years, Todd Tilford has decided to put the program (Lot 2546) along with the ticket stub from the game (Lot 2545) into REA’s Summer Catalog Auction, which runs through August 13. This is the first signed example of this program and only the second example of this historic ticket stub that REA has ever offered. Also included in the program lot is a check from 1962 used by Todd’s father to purchase the tickets to the game for $8.
Although Todd’s father passed away several years ago, his mother still resides not far from Hershey and the hallowed ground where one of basketball’s most historic games doubled as the start of a beautiful relationship. This July, Todd’s parents would have celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.
Who says you can’t be romantic about sports?