Bob Pettit
A relentless power forward who dominated the NBA's early era, becoming its first MVP and a prototype for modern big men.
Born 1932 (age 94)·American former basketball player and coach·Birthday: December 12·The Silent Generation
Biography
Bob Pettit dropped 50 points on the Boston Celtics to clinch the 1958 NBA Championship for the St. Louis Hawks, the franchise's only title. Standing 6'9", he was considered too slender for professional basketball, a doubt he used as fuel. Drafted by the Milwaukee Hawks, he proved critics wrong with a ferocious work ethic and a deadly shooting touch from the corner. Pettit played with intensity, diving for loose balls in practice and battling giants like Bill Russell under the boards. His high-arching jumper and tenacious rebounding redefined expectations for frontcourt players. He finished his career as an 11-time All-Star and a permanent benchmark for excellence.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Bob was born in 1932, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bob Was Born
The biggest hits of 1932
#1 Movie
Grand Hotel
Best Picture
Grand Hotel
Bob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1932Born
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1937Started school
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1945Became a teenager
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1948Could drive
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1950Could vote
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1953Turned 21
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1962Turned 30
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1972Turned 40
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 50
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 60
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 70
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 80
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2026Age 94 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the very first NBA Most Valuable Player in 1956 and won the award again in 1959.
- Led the St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 NBA Championship, scoring 50 points in the decisive Game 6 against the Boston Celtics.
- Elected to the NBA All-Star Game every season of his 11-year career and won the All-Star Game MVP award four times.
- Averaged a double-double for his entire career, with final averages of 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Hawks, but the team moved to St. Louis before his rookie season began.
Pettit wore number 9, which was later retired by the Atlanta Hawks franchise.
He was known for his meticulous preparation, studying opponents' tendencies and keeping detailed notes on his own performances.
After retirement, he served as the interim head coach for the Hawks for part of the 1969-70 season.
“I wasn't a great athlete, and I wasn't a great shooter. I just worked like hell.”
