A perfect 100

He is both carnivore and carnival, this Goliath of a basketball player named Wilt Chamberlain.

He seemingly is booed more often than he is cheered during his checkered NBA career in Philadelphia.

Yet, for one night – 62 years ago tonight, in fact – Chamberlain is wildly cheered in Hershey, Pa., as he scores a single-game, NBA record 100 points in the Warriors’ 169-147 victory over the New York Knicks before a crowd of 4,124 at Hersheypark Arena.

For those counting, Chamberlain’s personal score-by-quarters reads 23-18-28-31.

Equally remarkable is Chamberlain –a career 51-percent free throw shooter – converts 28 of 32 free throw attempts.

The night in Hershey only perpetuates the unfair but oft-repeated image of the 7-foot-1, 275-pound Chamberlain as a selfish, one-dimensional player.

“It’s become my handle,” Chamberlain says years after making history in Hershey.

“People will say to a little kid, ‘See that guy right there? He scored 100 points in a game.’ I’m definitely proud of it.”

(Paul Vathis photo)