harold ballard obituary harold ballard obituary

This account has been disabled. "It's the same," he said, "as human beings in business.". The Leafs defeated the Red Wings in the final game of the season, and backed into the playoffs when the Stars lost their final game hours later. (His father had made the team's skates.) Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. As a young man, he loved working with horses on his aunt and uncles farm. His last months were filled with court fights involving his children. Things changed when Mr. Ballard became president and governor of the Maple Leafs in 1972. He removed the Queen's picture to make room for more seats. Echovita is an archive of public obituaries and death notices to keep you. After the owners death in 1990, however, she was involved in a bitter dispute with Ballards children Bill, Mary Elizabeth and Harold Jr. over his estate. William. Along with a sister and a brother, Mr. Ballard grew up in the towering shadow of his father's loud, blustery life. Mr. McDermott was a pet project of Mr. Ballard's. Try again later. She was born June 22, 1937, in Versailles, Missouri, daughter of the late Juanita . In 1973, the WHA moved the Ottawa Nationals to Toronto as the Toronto Toros. It is with heavy hearts that the family of William Joseph "Bill" Ballard announce his passing, after a brief illness, at the Saint John Regional Hospital on Sunday, July 10th, 2022. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Harold Ballard Sheriff (Elberton, Georgia), born in Seneca, South Carolina, who passed away at the age of 78, on April 1, 2019. Ballard had once called Sittler "the son I never had", but relations between the two took a turn for the worse with Sittler's increasing prominence in the NHLPA. [6] During the time Harold was in prison, his son Bill managed the Maple Leaf Gardens. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. He was not only angry at how the WHA had decimated his roster earlier in the decade, but also wasn't enamored at the prospect of reduced television revenue. However, due to playing in a division where no team cracked the 90-point barrier, they still made the playoffs. HAROLD BALLARD OBITUARY HAROLD BALLARD III "Bo" Gary, Indiana Age 19 passed away Monday, December 4, 2006. His death set off a feeding frenzy that had already been begun over the iconic properties he controlled: the Toronto Maple Leafs and. [7], When the NHL finally did take in four WHA teams after the 197879 season, Ballard refused to support the deal. A member of the Leafs organization from 1940 and a senior executive from 1957, he became part-owner of the team in 1961 and was majority owner from February 1972 until his death. He was accused by the Crown attorney of using funds from Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to pay for renovations to his home on Montgomery Rd., in Etobicoke. These demands made it financially impossible for the Toros to survive in Toronto, and after the 1975-76 season they moved to Birmingham, Alabama. He had his own brand of patriotism. He will be remembered by many because of his father, and for his partnership in CPI's revolutionary development of the live music industry and associations with legendary acts such as the Who, Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones. But Mr. Ballard became ill, called off the wedding and entered the hospital. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. His parents were Clarence Buchholz and Ruth Preston Buchholz. You can search by first or last name, state and publication date. When his cantankerous father returned from prison, Mr. Ballard was demoted, though he stayed on the board and kept his large chunk of common stock in the company. Ballard died of a combination of factors, including diabetes, heart problems and kidney and respiratory failure, doctors at Wellesley Hospital said in a release. And I had Billy on my side.". Harold would pretend to be angry, then make sure she had a ticket. By the time Yolanda walked into Harolds life in 1983, she had done jail time for perjury and been married once to a lawyer, then divorced. In 1974, when Bassett put the Toronto Argonauts up for sale, Ballard offered to buy the team for $3 million, but his offer was rejected. He was a lifetime resident of Gary and attended Wirt High School. Until he acquired control of the team and Maple Leaf Gardens in 1972, Mr. Ballard was little known outside hockey circles. Learn more about merges. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. For six years before World War I, Ballard and his family lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Republication or distribution of this content is Canada, Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current. In the early 1970s, Ballard made an application for a second Canadian Football League team to be based in Toronto, to play at Varsity Stadium. He is survived by three children: William, Harold Jr. and Mary. "Silent runner or not, an incident in 1989 put Mr. Ballard in the public arena, where the light was not always flattering. Cool as a cucumber she says, Youre going to get you blankety blank a-- out of this car or youre going to have a hole that I can put a football through from here to East Lansing., She just knew what to do at the right time.. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. He often fought with league authorities, his employees, the news media, the fans and his children, often chuckling as he moved from battle to battle. There, the Nationals lost 21 in overtime to a team from the U.S.the first loss for a Canadian team at the world championships. Please try again later. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. [10] After the season, where the Maple Leafs were swept in the quarterfinals by the Canadiens, Ballard fired general manager Jim Gregory, replacing him with his predecessor, Punch Imlach. In 1969, Ballard and Stafford Smythe were charged with tax evasion and accused of using Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to pay for their personal expenses. In the end, they reportedly settled on somewhere between $2 million and $5 million in total, plus two seats at the Gardens. He had claimed losses in excess of $20 million over 11 seasons with the Tiger-Cats. Resend Activation Email. They returned to Toronto where his father, English-born Sidney Eustace Ballard, founded Ballard Machinery Supplies Co., a sewing machine manufacturer, which at one point was one of Canada's leading manufacturers of ice skates (it went out of the business in the early 1930s, when the Canadian skate market was dominated by CCM). Yolanda was obviously a die-hard Toronto Maple Leaf fan to her death, and never missed the home opener., Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. She was a canning manager and was a. "Peace is wonderful, but ", Frank Orr, Cole, Stephen. About a month later, Ballard and two friends from the Yacht club were hurled from a boat into a frigid Lake Ontario. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harold Ballard (10477)? You can always change this later in your Account settings. The low point came in 198485, when the Leafs finished the season with the worst record in the league, 32 games below .500. Shortly after, Ballard tried to buy the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from owner Michael DeGroote, but that offer was also rejected. based on information from your browser. Hough relented, and the broadcast went on as scheduled. Imlach was never officially fired, but when he tried to return to his office in November, he found that his parking spot at Maple Leaf Gardens had been reassigned and Gerry McNamara had been made acting general manager. Ballard's opposition to European players was so virulent that a Leafs scout used Ballard's time in jail to sign Brje Salming, one of the NHL's first great European players. Born in Drain, Ore., she was a visitor to Spring Hill. Yolanda's lawyer Howard Levitt stated there had been a marriage proposal. He would coach one more game, for the senior Marlies, during the 1950 Allan Cup final, after head coach Joe Primeau's father died. Harold Edwin Ballard (born Edwin Harold Ballard, July 30, 1903 - April 11, 1990) was a Canadian businessman and sportsman. Harold George Ballard - age 68 of Kodak passed away Sunday, December 3, 2017. Ballard was pulled from the water unconscious, but one of his friends died. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Imlach never returned to work and his contract was allowed to expire. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Lone Eagle Entertainment, Sam Lim Weve both been to jail.. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Ballard's solution was to make the CBC pay for the upgrade. [29], Despite his reputation, Ballard was well known for his charitable activities, and even leased out MLG for many functions. Bill was born in Saint John on July 25th, 1951, son of the late Harold and Florence (nee Keir) Ballard. He had worked early on with Neil Young and Joni Mitchell in smaller venues, but by the time CPI came into being he saw the writing on the wall. This became clear when the arena was dim for the first game. When Hockey Night in Canadas president, Ted Hough, balked at Ballard's demands just before a broadcast, Ballard grabbed a fireman's ax and threatened to cut the TV cable unless Hough agreed to pay. A visitation will be held on Friday, August 7, from 5-7 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation, 833 S. Marschall Road, Shakopee. As a member of the National Yacht Club, Ballard became an avid racer of Sea Fleas, small outboard hydroplanes. Mr. Ballard invested in Maple Leaf Gardens when it was built in 1931 and worked there as he worked his way through the organization in various positions. During his tenure, he repeatedly threatened to move the franchise to Toronto (70 km north). The Stellicks and Howard Levitt, a family friend and lawyer, contend Yolanda deserved the settlement. Bill Ballard, right, with singer Tom Cochrane and music publicist James Monaco at the opening of the musical Tommy in Toronto in 1995. Yolanda was born Jan. 3, 1933 in Fort William, Ont. Soon after taking over as majority owner, he forced out several longtime front-office personnel and replaced them with his own men. All results for Harrold Ballard Edit SearchNew SearchJump to Filters To get better results, add more information such as Birth Info, Death Info and Locationeven a guess will help. Mom reaches under the front seat and she pulls out this gun, said MacMillan. In 1985-86, they finished with a .356 winning percentage, the fourth-worst record in the league and fourth worst in franchise history. JEAN BALLARD OBITUARY. 1910 United States Federal Census. Mr. Ballard was a victor mostly, though nervy, cunning, garrulous, generous, protective of friends, formidable as an adversary and sharp as a tack, by all accounts. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. However, he insisted on receiving compensation for Keon, and set the price so high that potential suitors shied away, in effect preventing Keon from joining another NHL team. Often he was the guest of Mr. Ballard at the arena's private Hot Stove Lounge, where Mr. Ballard awed all with his epic bouts of dining. I was afraid. Harold Ballard. Keon was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. Obituary Mr. Harold Ballard Sheriff, 78, of Cromer Road, Elberton, husband of 27 years to Betty Ann Powell Sheriff, finished his course in faith on Monday, April 1, 2019, at St. Mary's Hospice House in Watkinsville. and denied them access to the Leafs locker room. Shortly after taking control of the Leafs, Ballard stood trial on 49 counts of fraud, theft and tax evasion involving $205,000. Drag images here or select from your computer for Harold Ballard memorial. He also removed the cushions from the home bench for Toros' games (he told an arena worker, "Let 'em buy their own cushions!") Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. In the West, CFL teams had come under significant pressure resulting from the introduction of WHA franchises in the four largest Western markets, therefore Western Football Conference teams were generally supportive of Ballard's efforts to become a CFL owner. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). 0 cemeteries found in Toronto, Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada. A celebration of life is planned for the Granite Club when pandemic restrictions are lifted. The Leafs and North Stars both played in the Norris Division, which was extremely weak that year; the Red Wings were the only team with a winning record. However, Ballard did not object the following year when Hodgson sold his stake in the Argos to Carling O'Keefe notwithstanding the fact the brewer also owned a team in the WHA (the Quebec Nordiques). Two days later, Ballard asked Neilson to return, but with a paper bag over his head so as to conceal his identity. Try again later. He said Yolanda would often show up on road trips. However, this was largely because Ballard was unwilling to increase the payroll in order to improve the on-ice product, despite playing in the fourth-largest market. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. She could dine with the Queen of England at night and the next morning be busting it with any kind of maintenance person, Gord Stellick recalled. Just as Ballard's trial was beginning, he told Hockey Canada that they were welcome to use any member of the Leafs on the Canadian team, could use Maple Leaf Gardens for their training camp, and could use the building for any or all of the games in the series, with the Gardens' share of the gate receipts being donated to the NHL players' pension fund. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. When you have found an obituary of interest, you have the option of upgrading that obituary with more recent and relevant content unless the obituary is already assigned to another user. Bill MacMillan Jr., who said he was estranged from his mother at the time of her death, recalled how protective his five-foot little nothing mom could be. According to Globe columnist Dick Beddoes, the young Mr. Ballard played a "static but well-meaning game" as an undersized lineman. The Tiger-Cats made the playoffs every year under Ballard's ownership and played in four Grey Cup championship games, losing in 1980, 1984 and 1985 before finally winning the Cup in 1986. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Shelvie "Jeannie" Workman Ballard, 85, of Newton, passed away on Friday, January 6, 2023 at Carolina Caring in Newton. Yolanda Ballard, the former companion of crusty Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard who became a central figure in the circus surrounding the franchise in the 1980s and '90s, has died. BALLARD, Bura (WOOD); 88; Greenfield IN; 2006-Dec-27; Bura Ballard BALLARD, Dorothy L (CROWELL); ; Indianapolis IN; 2007-Jan-3; Dorothy Ballard or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. In an obituary published in the Star and Globe and Mail, the family wrote: Mother always referred to Harold as the love of her life and sadly never seemed to be able to get past his passing. He told friends that on a visit to the Soviet Union he had put a Maple Leaf sticker on Lenin's tomb. Bill Ballard died of cancer on March 13 at the age of 67. As Imlach was preparing to trade Sittler to the Quebec Nordiques, he had a heart attack in August and was hospitalized. Thanks for your help! Growing up in Jordan, he went to St John's Catholic School for 8 years and graduated from Jordan High School in 1952. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution 31. Weve updated the security on the site. However, Bassett didn't force Smythe and Ballard to sell their shares, and both men remained on the board. Around that time, the Leafs had made it as far as the Stanley Cup semifinals in 1978, losing to the two-time defending champions Montreal Canadiens. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Even after the NHL-WHA merger was finalized over Ballard's objections, it was only the intervention of NHL President John Ziegler that finally persuaded Ballard to not reclaim Keon's rights (which would have effectively ended his career) and allow him to play three more seasons with the mediocre Hartford Whalers. "[4], He also expanded the number of concerts, entertainment acts, and conventions booked in the building. Learn . Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.21, Penguin Books. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Verify and try again. Edwin Harold Ballard was born on July 30, 1903, the only child of Sidney Eustace Ballard and the former Mary Garner. At first, the players welcomed Ballard behind the bench, but the mood soon changed, particularly after Ballard benched the team captain. Anyone can read what you share. Two months later, he was sentenced to nine years in a federal penitentiary. He also was the owner of the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League (1978-89), which won the 1986 Grey Cup. "He was a bit of a silent runner," Mr. Cohl says. In addition to sharing the Braves with Buffalo, he had notions of a second CFL franchise and big-league baseball, too. As owner of the Tiger Cats, Ballard claimed to be losing a million dollars a year. There is only one Mrs. Ballard and that was my mother (Dorothy, who died in 1969), said Bill Ballard, who was found of guilty of assaulting Yolanda in 1989 and fined $500. He participated in the 133-mile Albany, New York-New York City marathon in April 1930, finishing second in his class. However, Ballard soon began displaying tendencies that would eventually make him one of the most detested owners in NHL history. Born Aug. 6, 1944, at Cairo, Illinois, to the late Harold Vance Delk Sr. and Mary Cogdill Delk, he had lived in Bertrand most of his life. At the same time, Ballard continued to work for Ballard Machinery, and took over the business after his father's retirement in 1935. [11] Gregory learned of the news when he received a call from an NHL executive offering him the directorship of the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, unbeknownst to him that Ballard had fired him.[11]. He negotiated lucrative deals to place advertising throughout the building, and greatly increased the number of seats in the Gardens. View Harold Edwin Ballard's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more. Mr. Ballard's will may determine his heir and the next owner of the team and building. Family and friends may call at the Amos Carvelli Funeral Home, 201 Edison Street, Nutter Fort on Sunday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, where funeral services will be held on Monday, March 6, 2023 at 11:00 am. Police surround the vehicle, and gunfire is heard on the video. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? During the hockey off-season in 1961, Ballard became founding president of the four-team Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League, which operated in Toronto, Hamilton, and Montreal. One particular weekend, he said, Michigan beat rival Michigan State and the local students were going wild, which stalled traffic. Mrs. Ballard died suddenly yesterday morning in Wellesley. William Owen Sydney Ballard (November 10, 1946 - March 14, 2014) was a businessman and concert promoter. This led to renewed criticism of Ballard's unwillingness to spend what it took to get the Leafs to the next level. At age 54, Ballard was the oldest member of the group, which were otherwise all in their 30s and 40s. Their best season in more than a decade has been the current one, during which Mr. Ballard was gravely ill and others assumed control. Mr. Finkelstein's True North record label and artist management company was taking off, and so he withdrew from the concert promotion game. The Leafs barely made the playoffs in 1980, finishing five games below .500. Caught between a great inheritance in the sports world and an artistic career, he chose to lay bricks and paint. [28] However, in the end, it was a partnership of the Labatt Brewing Company, Howard Webster, and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) that brought baseball to Toronto, as they were awarded an expansion team in the American League for $7 million that became the Toronto Blue Jays, who began play in 1977. AGE undefined Harold Ballard North Highlands, CA View Full Report Relatives Nilajay Butler Phone Address AGE 70s ''If there's gold on that ship, it doesn't matter what flag you fly,'' Mr. Smythe said. Ballard left his personal belongings to his children and grandchildren. The singer was nearing 40 years old and working at The Toronto Sun when he embarked on a performing career. This article was published more than 8 years ago. A social media post showed video of what appears to be the shooting. Ballard wasn't initially named to the committee when it was unveiled in March 1957, but took the place of Ian Johnston nine months later. ''I just booted her out,'' Ballard told Dick Beddoes, the author of the biography ''Pal Hal.'' [1] For the 1962 season, Ballard tried to introduce a hockey-style penalty box to soccer, but the rule change was not allowed by FIFA. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. The storied arena fell into disrepair during Ballard's tenure. He later reversed the names and referred to himself as Harold E. Ballard. When asked recently about the process of succession, Paul McNamara, chairman of the board of Maple Leaf Gardens, said: ''We just don't know it. Off the ice, the Maple Leafs under Ballard were one of the league's most financially successful teams. [2] Just after the advent of colour television in Canada, the Maple Leafs installed a new lighting system. Cremation services have been . She would often hang around the team office until late at night. In 1990, Harold Ballard died, irascible and overripe at 86. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. After Ballard's release from prison, he had an apartment built at the Gardens facing Church Street where he would live through most of the year, while spending summers at his cottage near Lafontaine, Ontario in the Thunder Beach community. Besides, what the hell position can a queen play? Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. Within three years under the new owners, profits at the Gardens had tripled to just under $1 million. At the end of the 197172 season, the Leafs only had three players signed to contracts for the next season: Rick Kehoe and veterans Jacques Plante and Bobby Baun. They would not post a winning record again in Ballard's lifetime, going a franchise-record 13 consecutive seasons without a winning record. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (1977) and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1987). In gratitude, Williams shot a bear during a winter hunt and skinned it for Ballard's office. Dr. Henry Harold Ballard, age 79, of Grand Prairie, Texas passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. [25] After the Tiger Cats beat the Toronto Argonauts in the 1986 Eastern Final, Ballard said "You guys may still be overpaid, but after today, no one can call you losers. On October 16, 2016, as part of the Toronto Maple Leafs centennial celebrations, Keon was . If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. [30] Even before his death, there had been battles between his children, Bill Ballard, Harold Ballard Jr., and Mary Elizabeth Flynn, and his longtime companion, Yolanda Ballard. "He was in the shadow of his father and maybe I got more attention, but he was awfully sharp. In his will, Ballard had left Yolanda $50,000 a year for the rest of her life, but she considered this inadequate and sued for $192,600 and later $381,000 a year. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. At age 68, Ballard won a battle with Stafford's family and bought his shares, giving him a 60 percent controlling interest in the Gardens. ''Harold hit him one shot; knocked him kicking,'' Mr. Clancy said in a 1984 interview. Make a Memorial Donation . ). The Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) has announced that deep-sea explorer and retired U.S. Navy commander Dr. Robert Ballard, best known for his discovery of the R.M.S. This is a carousel with slides. And so, at the age of 25, armed with a law degree from Osgoode, son Bill stepped in and became director and vice-president of Maple Leaf Gardens. SEARCH. Although the Leafs were barely competitive for much Ballard's tenure, every game at Maple Leaf Gardens was sold out and he was well known for his charitable activities. However, as Ken Dryden put it in his book The Game, he seemed "like [a] wrestling villain who touches the audience to make his next villainy seem worse.". He was recognized for this on his citation during his 1977 Hockey Hall of Fame induction. She was 87. Fed up with being what he described as the "vice-president in charge of being the boss's son," he moved on to CPI , along with a $5-million loan from his father that helped found the company. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Hurt, 91, of Salem, passed away on Friday, November 25, 2016. I mean, he didn't get his law degree from a Cheerios box. In Toronto, one of the most British of Canadian cities, with downtown streets named ''King'' and ''Queen,'' a large picture of Queen Elizabeth used to hang in Maple Leaf Gardens. To order In the Olympic Village, Mr. Ballard stole an Olympic flag and brought it home as a souvenir. Face masks are required. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Though Imlach was gone, Sittler's relationship with the Leafs worsened again in the 198182 season and he was traded that year to the Philadelphia Flyers. ", (Indeed, Mr. Ballard was an enthusiastic chaser of properties to bring into Toronto. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Ballard then partnered with long-time rival Alan Eagleson and Eagleson's client Bobby Orr to get the television rights to the series, which would be used to benefit Hockey Canada and the players' union. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Over the years, he continued to support his alma mater's Golden Hawks, and in 2009 he entered Laurier's Hall of Fame. At the time, the CFL still consisted of two autonomous conferences. Angered that the WHA was literally in his backyard, the elder Ballard made the Toros' lease terms as onerous as possible. It's true that few men other than Mr. Ballard could have placed a relative novice such as Mr. McDermott on a national tour with the world's premier Celtic group, the Chieftains. Never paid any taxes for me. "When you get into the business at age 38, like I did, you're either crazy or you've got a great champion on your side. He played a key role in the Leaf dynasty of the 1960s, winning Stanley Cups in 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1967. In 1972, Harold Ballard's idiosyncratic bookkeeping and whimsical ideas on what money was his and what money belonged to Maple Leaf Gardens got him into severe trouble. "Is that an act?" Benjamin Harold Ballard, 42, was shot and killed in a traffic altercation at SW 59 and Mustang Road about 6:45 p.m. Friday, June 5, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation reported. He installed himself as president and chairman of Maple Leaf Gardens and governor of the Maple Leafs. U.S. Oops, something didn't work. Mr. Ballard never remarried, although he kept close company in recent years with Yolanda Ballard, who changed her name from MacMillan to Ballard in 1987. Sittler was apparently untouchable as he had a no-trade clause in his contract and, through his agent Eagleson, had insisted on $500,000 to waive it. When Day was busy with the Leafs and unavailable for games, Ballard would step behind the bench as acting coach. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Ballard booked The Beatles on each of their three North American tours from 19641966. Search above to list available cemeteries. Ballard was a very hands-on owner who quickly became known for being irascible and cantankerous. Burial Date: March 6, 2023. She thought it was horrible, the way she was treated by certain members of the family, and she found it unfortunate they wouldnt recognize the status she had, Levitt said. He floated the idea of bringing in the NHL's California Golden Seals into the Toronto area and much later was a failed bidder for the expansion NBA Raptors.). Ballard to Ottawa writer Earl McRae in the 1980s. In the mid-1970s the NHL, facing competition from the WHA, passed a rule that players' last names must be on the backs of their jerseys. [8], At the time Ballard took over, the Leafs' captain was Dave Keon, who had been with the team since 1960. Conn Smythe later claimed that he believed he was only selling his shares to his son, but it is very unlikely that Stafford could have acquired the millions he needed to buy the Leafs on his own. The Leafs, historically one of hockey's best franchises, gradually became one of its worst teams through the 1980's. Box 716 Maiden, NC 28650. Mr. Ballard, a big, burly man with bright orange-red hair, was ''an old-fashioned pirate,'' said Conn Smythe, who ran Maple Leaf Gardens while the young Mr. Ballard was learning the business. Dave "Tiger" Williams who played with the Leafs from 1973 to 1980 had a close relationship with Ballard. One of the key players in the fight was his son Bill, a major concert promoter and something of a chip off the old block what he didn't learn at Osgoode Hall Law School, his father had taught him.