Written In Blue And White

Greg Oliver

Description

Who knew that paperwork could be so fascinating? In Written in Blue and White, author Greg Oliver explores the fascinating archives of Allan Stitt, one of hockey's leading collectors, unearthing gem after gem that details the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs through the past century. Explore early contracts with players and how the clauses evolved; read personal correspondence from Leaf players and management; find out what was behind Wally Stanowski's 1945 fine for GBP100; see receipts from the 1935 Stanley Cup playoffs - and learn just how much oranges cost.

Sujets

• Hockey sobre hielo
• Ice hockey

Informations

• Publié par: Ecw Press
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781770906211
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 8 Mo

Extrait

The Toronto Maple Leafs
Contracts and Historical Documents
from the Collection of Allan Stitt
GREG OLIVER
ECW Press



Copyright © Allan Stitt, 2014
Published by ECW Press
2120 Queen Street East, Suite 200
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4E 1E2
416-694-3348 / [e-mail]
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any process — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise — without the prior written permission of the copyright owners and ECW Press. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized elec- tronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Oliver, Greg, author
Written in blue & white : the Toronto Maple Leafs con- tracts and historical documents from the collection of Allan Stitt / Greg Oliver.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-77090-621-1 (epub)
Also issued as: 978-1-77090-620-4 (PDF);
978-1-77041-215-6 (Bound)
1. Toronto Maple Leafs (Hockey team)—History— Sources.
2. Professional sports contracts—Ontario—Toronto— History—Sources.
3. Hockey players—Ontario— Toronto—History—Sources. 4. Hockey teams—Ontario—Toronto—History—Sources. 5. Hockey—Ontario—Toronto—History—Sources.
6. Stitt, Allan J.—Private collections. I. Title. II. Title:
Written in blue and white. III. Title: Toronto Maple Leafs contracts and historical documents from the col- lection of Allan Stitt.
GV848.T6O45 2014 796.962’6409713541 C2014- 902564-5
C2014-902565-3
Editor for the press: Michael Holmes
Cover and text design: Tania Craan
Cover and interior images from the collection of Allan Stitt, with the following exceptions: courtesy David Poile page 60; Rochester Americans 118; Hockey Hall of Fame — 5, 19, 22, 23, 24, 26, 30, 44, 66, 70 (top), 72, 74, 96, 115, 124, 130, 132, 134, 140, 145, 160, 162, 164, 168, 174, 178, 184, 186; HHOF–Craig Campbell 12; HHOF–Dave Sandford Collection 172, 180, 188; HHOF–Frank Prazak Collection 142; HHOF–Graphic Artists Collection 136, 148, 150, 154; HHOF–Imperial Oil Turofsky Collection 28, 32, 34, 42, 46, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 62, 64, 70 (bottom), 75, 78, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 94, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 120, 122, 128, back cover; HHOF–John Hanlon Collection 144; HHOF–Lewis Portnoy Collection 138, 152, 156, 158, 166; HHOF–Miles Nadal Collection 170, 176; HHOF– Paul Bereswill Collection 182; HHOF–Steve Poirier 8; Radek Cecha 10, back flap.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund for our publishing activities, and the contribu- tion of the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit and the Ontario Media Development Corporation.









Eddie Shack, the Stanley Cup, and many of the women employees of Maple Leaf Gardens.




To the unheralded secretaries, accountants, and personal assistants, who have helped teams run smoothly through the ages.
George Boothman (Leafs 1942–44), letter to Hap Day, July 3, 1944: “Hello to all the girls in the office.”
Hap Day, letter to George Boothman, July 10, 1944: “Said ‘hello’ to all the girls in the office as you requested and the only reply I received was ‘who is Boothman?’”




Foreword by Ron Ellis … 9
INTRODUCTION … 11
CHAPTER 1 … 27
THE EARLY YEARS Paul Jacobs’ Very, Very Brief Career … Hap Day’s 1927 Contract … The House That Smythe Built—with Some Help … Receipts: Pucks, Laundry, Oper- ations … Insuring the Leafs … There and Back Again—with Oranges … Swept Away … Counting Pennies … Foster Hewitt’s Radio Revenue … Motoring Along in the Days of Train Travel
CHAPTER 2 … 47
THE WAR YEARS Shep Mayer, Flying Ace … Wally Gets His Way … Jack McLean’s Bad Break … George Booth- man, Scouting Prospects … When Bodnar Bested Durnan … Carr Plays It McCool … “Hitler will rue the day that he started this war” … Stanowski, Buddies, and Beer … John- ny McCreedy’s Many Trophies … Family Learns Something New About Doc Prentice … Too Small for Hockey, Perfect for Lacrosse … Broda’s Find Loses Right Eye … Bob David- son, Super Scout
CHAPTER 3 … 75
POST-WAR AND THE 1950s Meeker’s Rookie Deal—and Rookie Mistake … The Battle for George Armstrong … “Sudden Death” Hill … The Apps Retirement Plan … Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong: Hockey Parents … Watch Your Lan- guage … Davidson Has His Eyes on Horton … Tim Hor- ton’s 1954–55 Contract … Danny Lewicki is Conn-ed, Sees Reds … Barilko: Discovery, Victory, Tragedy … Giving Up on Barilko … Teeder’s Money Matters … Teeder Kennedy’s Long Goodbye … Dick Duff’s First Payday … Mahovlich’s Demands … Stanley-Morrison Trade Leads to Four Stanley Cups … An Exhibition Lineup



CONTENTS





CHAPTER 4 … 115
THE 1960s Mahovlich Gets Punched … Imlach Defends Horton … The Education of Al Arbour … Punch’s Training Camp … Trying to Keep Cheevers … Brian Conacher’s Letter to Punch … Friday’s Mis- take … The Many Transgressions of Eddie Shack … Allan Stanley Gets Back on the Ice … A Real Gam- ble … J.P. Parise’s Day in Blue and White … Dorey Needs a Ride … An Early Glimpse into Spinner’s Mind … Tiptoeing with Tiny Tim
CHAPTER 5 … 145
THE 1970s Henderson Is Busted … Murray Oliver Moves to Minnesota … Bad Goalie, Good Trainer … Plante’s Apartment … Who Pays Shakey? … Give Glennie Credit … Ullman Chooses Security … Bernie Bolts … Tiger “an excellent team man” … Palmateer Never Lacked Confidence … Randy Carlyle’s Double Deal … Pelyk Comes Home … Turnbull Skates into Sponsorship
CHAPTER 6 … 173
THE 1980s AND 1990s All-Star Sittler … Sittler’s Infamous No-Trade Clause … Zanussi Sent Home … Ihnacak’s Great Escape … Contract Demands Get Stumpy Shipped Out … Ken Wregget and the Friendly Confines of the Gardens … Thornton Finds Success … Watch Out for That 99 Guy … Gold Stars for Potvin … An Easy Night for the Video Guy
Acknowledgements … 191
References … 193









Ron Ellis played 16 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a member of the 1967 Stanley Cup winning team and a member of Team Canada ’72, the Team of the Century. Ron is now the program director for the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Development Association.



9



FOREWORD


Allan Stitt is a huge sports fan and can hold his own with anyone who wants to talk about his Leafs and Blue Jays. Thankfully, he encouraged me to attend the Vancouver Winter Olympics with him and our sons and it has become the memory of a lifetime, for- ever cementing our friendship.
The Hockey Hall of Fame has benefitted from Allan’s love of hockey and generous spirit. How so, you might ask? Well in my opinion, he is a member of the elite when it comes to expertise as a collector of sports memorabilia. Allan is always on the lookout for artifacts that would be of interest to the Hockey Hall of Fame and upon finding these special items he then donates them to the Hall.
Because of his interest in sports memora- bilia, Allan also has numerous hockey jerseys, sticks, and other pieces that were used by professionals during their NHL careers and games played with Team Canada in inter- national competition. If you are fortunate enough to visit his office, you might just get an impressive VIP tour.
In his successful professional life, Allan is a lawyer specializing in mediation and arbitra- tion. No doubt, this is the reason he especially enjoys collecting NHL contracts. More than once, he has given me original copies of con- tracts I signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In our conversations, I have shared the circumstances of signing my first contract
with General Manager Punch Imlach. As an 18-year-old in 1964, all alone, I sat in a very low chair looking up at Punch in his office. Punch said, “Sign here now or continue going to school.” This was the era of the Original Six and there were no player agents on the scene and the Players’ Association was still a few years away. There was little negotiation as all first-year players made the same basic salary. I do recall asking for one clause in the contract that prevented the Leafs from send- ing me to the minors in my first season. This gave me an opportunity to determine if I could play in the NHL and proved to be ben- eficial to my career.
As you read this book, you will have the opportunity to peruse some of the contracts and other historical documents that Allan has accumulated over the years. Behind each there is a story that describes the circum- stance that enabled players to take advantage of opportunities like league expansion or becoming part of a dynasty.
Assembling this book has been a labour of love for Allan.
His willingness to share his unique col- lection of contracts gives all hockey fans an opportunity to study the history of the NHL from a totally new perspective. Enjoy the read!
Ron Ellis





Allan Stitt in his “Leafs room” at the office.




11


The Genesis of a Collection
It started with Teeder Kennedy’s rookie contract.
Allan Stitt was at a major hockey card show near Toronto’s airport when he spotted the old document, listed f