In 1977 the NHL made it mandatory for all players to have a nameplate with their name on their jersey. [1] Though Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard did not take too kindly to the idea. Fearing that the nameplates would interfere with program sales, Ballard gave blue jerseys blue letters, and white jerseys white letters, so the lettering would be practically invisible unless you viewed the jerseys up close. [2]
NHL president John Ziegler was not amused by Ballard’s antics, and fined Ballard $2000 for each game the Leaf’s did not have the proper coloured nameplates and letters. He had the proper coloured letters and nameplates sewn onto the jerseys eventually. [[3]
So far, the earliest date I can find where the Leafs used such jerseys was on Feb 26 1978 against the Chicago BlackHawks. [4]
The earliest date I can find after Feb 26 where the jerseys were not used, was on March 19 1978, against the Bruins. Where Stan Jonathan and Kurt Walker had a fight. We can see that Walker’s blue jersey has white lettering. [5]
Though, this is where I run into a gap, Feb 26 is the earliest point I can find where they used those jerseys and less than a month later, they stopped. I have no idea what happens in-between those two dates. I think it would be unlikely for Ballard to give the NHL $2000 a game for around a month, just because he doesn’t want letters on the backs of jerseys.
I’m looking for anything that can document the Leafs’ use of jerseys that had letters that were the same colour as the jersey. Newspaper clippings, videos, books, anything would be a big help, as I want to know the first time the Leafs used those jerseys, the last time they used those jerseys, and also what games the Leafs used those jerseys in.
Also, do any of those jerseys still exist?
1. http://pittsburghhockey.net/PensPages/PensJerseyHistory/PensERA/77-79RJersey.html
2. http://leafshq.com/2010/11/12/whats-in-a-jersey/
3. http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/clips/1290/
4. http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AIBAJ&pg=3220,3164871&dq=harold+ballard&hl=en
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78rsrWJfGOc
NHL president John Ziegler was not amused by Ballard’s antics, and fined Ballard $2000 for each game the Leaf’s did not have the proper coloured nameplates and letters. He had the proper coloured letters and nameplates sewn onto the jerseys eventually. [[3]
So far, the earliest date I can find where the Leafs used such jerseys was on Feb 26 1978 against the Chicago BlackHawks. [4]
The earliest date I can find after Feb 26 where the jerseys were not used, was on March 19 1978, against the Bruins. Where Stan Jonathan and Kurt Walker had a fight. We can see that Walker’s blue jersey has white lettering. [5]
Though, this is where I run into a gap, Feb 26 is the earliest point I can find where they used those jerseys and less than a month later, they stopped. I have no idea what happens in-between those two dates. I think it would be unlikely for Ballard to give the NHL $2000 a game for around a month, just because he doesn’t want letters on the backs of jerseys.
I’m looking for anything that can document the Leafs’ use of jerseys that had letters that were the same colour as the jersey. Newspaper clippings, videos, books, anything would be a big help, as I want to know the first time the Leafs used those jerseys, the last time they used those jerseys, and also what games the Leafs used those jerseys in.
Also, do any of those jerseys still exist?
1. http://pittsburghhockey.net/PensPages/PensJerseyHistory/PensERA/77-79RJersey.html
2. http://leafshq.com/2010/11/12/whats-in-a-jersey/
3. http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/clips/1290/
4. http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AIBAJ&pg=3220,3164871&dq=harold+ballard&hl=en
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78rsrWJfGOc
