Celtics legend Bill Russell mourns loss of "dear friend" Frank Robinson originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com Celtics legend Bill Russell on Thursday wrote a heartfelt tweet mourning the loss of his "dear friend," and Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson. Russell and Robinson were both legends in basketball and baseball respectively. Robinson, who passed away Thursday, had a 20-year baseball career as a player from 1956 to 1976 -- spent with the Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, and Los Angeles Dodgers among other teams -- before he became a successful manager.