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Princeton University Athletics
Kazmaier, Bradley Honored at No. 42 Retirement Reception Friday Night
October 24, 2008 | General, Men's Basketball
Accordingly, the Princeton Department of Athletics, in cooperation with the Princeton Varsity Club, the Princeton Football Association and the Friends of Princeton Basketball, officially retired the jersey number 42, worn by both Kazmaier and Bradley during their collegiate careers, Friday night across the entire 38-sport athletic program at Princeton.
“Both Dick and Bill had an ability to rise to the competitive challenge while simultaneously lifting the performance of their teammates,” Princeton Director of Athletics Gary Walters '67 said at the reception. “They aspired to be great and in the process, inspired others to emulate them. Princeton has been the beneficiary of their remarkable stature, and now it is time for Princeton to return the favor and honor them and to dignify their achievements as two of the most worthy and deserving Tigers of all time.”
The dinner featured a collection of highlights from the careers of Kazmaier and Bradley overlaid by reflections from several of their teammates and friends. Pulitzer Prize-winning author John McPhee '53 introduced both men, and Princeton University president Shirley Tilghman offered her congratulations via video on behalf of the university as a whole.
“I've always believed that Princeton is the gold standard when it comes to athletic achievement in an academic setting in the United States, and we could not have two more appropriate representatives than Dick Kazmaier from the great Class of 1952 and Bill Bradley from the great Class of 1965,” Tilghman said. “The wonderful thing about both Dick and Bill is not simply their extraordinary athletic achivement, but what they represented, not just to Princeton University, but to student-athletes all over the world who saw that it is possible, in fact, to achieve at the very highest level in athletics and then go on to be truly important leaders in their country and in the world. I am so proud to be part of a University that educated men like Dick Kazmaier and Bill Bradley.”
Kazmaier won the 1951 Heisman Trophy and led the 1950 Tigers to a share of the national championship. The 1951 Tigers finished the year ranked first in the East and sixth nationally.
As the speakers at the podium and on the highlight montage hinted, Kazmaier talked little about his own accomplishments and instead focused on the achievements of the Princeton athletic program as a whole. Kazmaier's class has been a major supporter of Princeton athletics, represented in part by its name on the Class of 1952 Stadium, home to Princeton field hockey and lacrosse. His late daughter Patty is an iconic figure within the Princeton women's hockey program.
Among his remarks, Kazmaier applauded his fellow honoree.
“How fortunate it was when Eddie Zanfrini, a masterful mentor of athletes, determined that Bill Bradley should be issued jersey number 42,” Kazmaier said. “To be linked in this manner with Bill has been one of my most privileged connections to athletics. Obviously tonight confirms E.Z.'s prediction with this event. My own undistinguished basketball career could have been dramatically enhanced if I could say I played with Bill Bradley.”
Bradley, Princeton basketball's all-time leading scorer who went on to win two NBA titles with the New York Knicks, serve three terms as a U.S. Senator from his adopted home state of New Jersey and make a run at the White House in 2000, reflected on tales from his days wearing the Princeton uniform.
Those memories about his teammates and his experience in the national spotlight as a student-athlete came after he remembered his connections with Kazmaier.
“When I was nine years old, playing pickup football in the church yard across from my house in Crystal City, Missouri, I imagined that I was Heisman Trophy winner Dick Kazmaier, who played for some college I never heard of called Princeton,” Bradley said. “Other kids wanted to be Hopalong Cassidy from Ohio State. I wanted to be Dick Kazmaier.”
Both honorees will have banners with their newly retired jerseys hanging in their respective sport's venue. Ceremonies surrounding the No. 42 retirement will continue Saturday during the Princeton-Harvard football game.