Boston Swapped Chick Halbert for Sonny Hertzberg
On September 28, 1949, the Washington Capitols traded Sonny Hertzberg to the Boston Celtics for Chick Halbert. Boston's, Washington's and the league's 1949-50 transaction pages all agree on September 28, correcting the legacy TradeVerdicts intake that placed the exchange on September 29. Halbert had arrived in Boston through the Providence dispersal draft earlier that summer, while Hertzberg had just completed a full 60-game BAA season in Washington at 7.4 points and 1.9 assists.
Hertzberg Became a Major Celtics Guard
Hertzberg immediately became one of Boston's most dependable players. He appeared in all 68 games in 1949-50, averaged 10.2 points and 2.9 assists, and scored 693 points. His field-goal percentage improved from .285 in Washington the prior season to .318 with the Celtics. He returned for 65 games in 1950-51, averaged 9.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists, and generated 2.5 win shares. Across those two Boston seasons, Hertzberg played 133 games and scored 1,328 points.
Washington Still Received a Useful Veteran
Halbert also gave the Capitols useful playing time, just at a lower offensive level. He appeared in all 68 games in 1949-50, averaged 4.8 points and 1.3 assists, and produced 3.6 win shares. Washington finished 32-36 and reached the playoffs, where Halbert averaged 9.5 points across two games. He stayed for 35 more Washington games in 1950-51, averaging 6.6 points and 7.6 rebounds before finishing that season with Baltimore.
The Larger Boston Role Wins the Comparison
Both teams received real NBA contributors, making this stronger than many cash-heavy transactions from the era. Halbert was durable and useful for Washington, especially as a rebounding frontcourt presence once rebounding statistics became available in 1950-51. Hertzberg, however, gave Boston more offensive value, more assists and a steadier two-season role. He played 133 Celtics games to Halbert's 103 for Washington and averaged roughly twice as many points in the first post-trade season.
Final Verdict
Celtics Win — Boston A, Washington B+. Boston acquired Sonny Hertzberg from the Washington Capitols for Chick Halbert on September 28, 1949. The legacy intake was one day late; Boston, Washington and league transaction logs all use September 28. Hertzberg became a major Celtics backcourt piece, averaging 10.2 points and 2.9 assists in all 68 games in 1949-50, then 9.8 points and 3.8 assists in 65 games the following season. Halbert played all 68 Washington games at 4.8 points, then 35 more at 6.6 before moving to Baltimore.