NEW YORK — Cal Ramsey, who starred at NYU in the 1950s and went on to play and broadcast for the New York Knicks, died Monday. He was 81.
The Knicks said he died of cardiac arrest at The Riverside Premier Rehabilitation and Healing Center in Manhattan.
After his playing career, Ramsey worked for the organization as a color analyst and later in community relations. He served as a Knicks ambassador for the past 28 years and also had remained on NYU’s basketball staff since 1983.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of NYC Basketball legend and former Knick Cal Ramsey, who represented the organization as a player, broadcaster and community ambassador. He had an unwavering love for the game, the city and its people and will be greatly missed. pic.twitter.com/dl7NhBdR7Y
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 25, 2019
Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan called Ramsey “one of the greatest ambassadors in New York City basketball history.”
Born in Selma, Alabama, Ramsey graduated from NYU in 1959 and also played in the NBA for the St. Louis Hawks and Syracuse Nationals. He is a member of the NYU Athletics and New York City Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Knicks said they will honor Ramsey during their next game, Thursday against Toronto.