Bob Bailey (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Robert Allan "Bashin' Bob" Bailey (b. May 29, 1931 in Kenora, Ontario
– d. October 24, 2003) was a ice hockey
right winger
. He spent time with the Toronto Maple Leafs
, Detroit Red Wings
, and Chicago Blackhawks
of the National Hockey League
. He was known for being involved with trades for over twenty players and was even traded for Bill Dineen on three separate occasions. He was inducted into the Dayton Hockey Hall of Fame on March 17, 1970 for his time with the Dayton Gems.
of the International Hockey League. He performed well, but many on the coaching staff felt he needed more time develop. He continued his play with the Stratford Kroehlers
and didn't return to the IHL until the 1951–52 season, when he played in the final two games of the season for the Toledo Mercurys
. However that was all it took. The Detroit Red Wings owned the rights to Bailey and decided to trade him to the Cleveland Barons along with his brother, John Bailey for the rights to Lou Jankowski
and Bill Dineen in June 1951. In the American Hockey League
Bailey flourished, playing in 54 games, amassing 46 points and a team-high 115 penalty minutes. That's all it took, as the Toronto Maple Leafs had had their eye on young Bailey and wanted to see what he could do. On May 30, 1953, Toronto traded Chuck Blair
and 30,000 USD to Cleveland for Bailey and Gerry Foley
.
On May 28, 1956, Bailey was traded along with Bob Sabourin
to the Springfield Indians
for 11,000 USD. On September 22, 1956, Bailey was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for cash, but would remain in Springfield on loan. He played 40 games for the Indians before being called up to replace injured players for the Detroit Red Wings. He joined the Red Wings for their short playoff run against the Boston Bruins
. The 1957–58 season saw Bailey playing for the Chicago Blackhawks after being acquired in an Inter-league draft on June 5, 1957. He would only play in 28 games before again being traded, this time with Jack McIntyre
, Nick Mickoski
and Hec Lalonde for Earl Reibel
, Billy Dea
, Lorne Ferguson
and Bill Dineen on December 17, 1957. Bailey again joined Detroit for the playoffs and again had a post-season altercation. During the semi-finals against the Montreal Canadiens
, there was a bench-clearing brawl that all started in the second period, precipitated by Bailey charging Montreal's goaltender
, Jacques Plante
. To settle the teams (and the crowd), referee Frank Udvari
sent both teams to their dressing rooms and added the 5:22 remaining in that second period to the third stanza. The Canadiens ended up winning 2-1 and knocked Detroit out of the playoffs in four games. The 1957-58 season would be Bailey's last in the NHL.
On July 31, 1958, Bailey was again traded to Cleveland from Detroit, this time for cash. However, Bailey picked up his scoring game for the 1958–59 season
and finished third on the team in scoring and first again in penalty minutes. The following season
saw Bailey playing only five more games for the Barons before being traded for Bill Dineen once again, this time to the Buffalo Bisons
on October 20, 1959. He would finish out the season in Buffalo at almost a point-per-game pace. In 1960, Bailey was involved in another multiplayer trade on June 7. Bailey, Glen Skov
, the rights to Danny Lewicki
, Terry Gray
and Lorne Ferguson
went to the Montreal Canadiens for Cecil Hoekstra
, Reggie Fleming, Ab McDonald
and Bob Courcy
. However he wouldn't see ice time with Montreal as he would spend time with Montreal's minor leagues. Bailey spent the 1960–61 season
with the Quebec Aces
and the start of the 1961–62 season
with the Pittsburgh Hornets before again being traded. This time Bailey would be switching leagues as Pittsburgh traded him to the San Francisco Seals of the Western Hockey League
for Gord Redahl
on February 27, 1962.
On the Seals, Bailey failed to put up large numbers and was sent to the Philadelphia Ramblers
of the Eastern Hockey League
. He had his best offensive season to date with the Ramblers, scoring 26 goals for a total of 91 points during the 1962–63 season. He also helped head coach for a short time that season along with Hugh Currie
and Doug Adam
. In 1963 Bailey was let go, but found a home with the Fort Wayne Komets
of the International Hockey League.
This turned out to be a great fit as Bailey put up his best numbers ever, scoring a career-high and team-leading 132 points in the 1965–66 season
. In his final season, Bailey was suspended after slugging referee Billy Purcell in a game at Fort Wayne on December 9, 1967. This is what helped convince Bailey to retire in 1968. He had spent four years with the Gems in which he scored 319 points, almost half his total amassed career points.
said Bailey was "the best to ever play hockey in Dayton."
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
– d. October 24, 2003) was a ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
right winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
. He spent time with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
, and Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. He was known for being involved with trades for over twenty players and was even traded for Bill Dineen on three separate occasions. He was inducted into the Dayton Hockey Hall of Fame on March 17, 1970 for his time with the Dayton Gems.
Minor league hockey
Bailey had his first taste of professional hockey at the age of 16 when he played 22 games with the Windsor Hettche SpitfiresWindsor Spitfires
The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The...
of the International Hockey League. He performed well, but many on the coaching staff felt he needed more time develop. He continued his play with the Stratford Kroehlers
Stratford Kroehlers
The Stratford Kroehlers were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Ontario Hockey Association. The Kroehlers were named for the Kroehler Furniture Company, a local manufacturer and team sponsor...
and didn't return to the IHL until the 1951–52 season, when he played in the final two games of the season for the Toledo Mercurys
Toledo Mercurys
The Toledo Mercurys are a defunct International Hockey League franchise from Toledo, Ohio. The Toledo Franchise was the first IHL franchise to be granted outside of the Windsor-Detroit area, for the cost of $1000.00 to Virgil Gladeaux of Toledo. The Mercurys existed 15 seasons in total from 1947 to...
. However that was all it took. The Detroit Red Wings owned the rights to Bailey and decided to trade him to the Cleveland Barons along with his brother, John Bailey for the rights to Lou Jankowski
Lou Jankowski
Louis Casimer Jankowski was a professional ice hockey forward and scout who played 130 games in the NHL and had a prolific career in the WHL...
and Bill Dineen in June 1951. In the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
Bailey flourished, playing in 54 games, amassing 46 points and a team-high 115 penalty minutes. That's all it took, as the Toronto Maple Leafs had had their eye on young Bailey and wanted to see what he could do. On May 30, 1953, Toronto traded Chuck Blair
Chuck Blair (ice hockey)
Charles Blair was a Canadian ice hockey player.Blair was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and while still an infant, he immigrated with his family to Canada. He played junior hockey with the Oshawa Generals before he was called up by the Toronto Maple Leafs to play his one and only NHL game...
and 30,000 USD to Cleveland for Bailey and Gerry Foley
Gerry Foley
Gerald James Foley is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 142 games in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, and Toronto Maple Leafs.-External links:...
.
Reaching the NHL
After spending a short amount of time in the Maple Leafs' farm system with the Ottawa Senators of the QHL and the Pittsburgh Hornets, Bailey made his debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the middle of the 1953–54 season. He played in 48 games and scored 9 points, but also joined the Leafs' short playoff run against the Detroit Red Wings. Maurice "Rocket" Richard had a short altercation with the young rookie when he butt-ended Bailey with his stick after Bailey slammed Richard into the boards. Throughout the game Richard repeatedly tried to renew his attack on Bailey and even refused to leave the ice after a slash when ordered by the referee. The following two seasons would be much less dramatic as they saw Bailey splitting time between the Maple Leafs and the Hornets, never really finding his scoring touch when brought up to the big leagues. While playing for the Hornets in 1956, Bailey was suspended from the remainder of the playoffs and fined 575 USD for assaulting referee Jerry Olinski on April 2.On May 28, 1956, Bailey was traded along with Bob Sabourin
Bob Sabourin
Robert Sabourin is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach, and general manager. A left winger, he played one game in the National Hockey League , for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1951–52 NHL season. He later played in the minor leagues, eventually joining the Jacksonville...
to the Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
for 11,000 USD. On September 22, 1956, Bailey was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for cash, but would remain in Springfield on loan. He played 40 games for the Indians before being called up to replace injured players for the Detroit Red Wings. He joined the Red Wings for their short playoff run against the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
. The 1957–58 season saw Bailey playing for the Chicago Blackhawks after being acquired in an Inter-league draft on June 5, 1957. He would only play in 28 games before again being traded, this time with Jack McIntyre
Jack McIntyre
John Archibald "Jack" McIntyre was a professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:...
, Nick Mickoski
Nick Mickoski
Nickolas "Broadway Nick" Mickoski was a Canadian ice hockey forward. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba.Mickoski started his National Hockey League career with the New York Rangers in 1947. He would also play for the Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, and Boston Bruins. He retired after the...
and Hec Lalonde for Earl Reibel
Earl Reibel
Earl "Dutch" Reibel was a Canadian ice hockey forward who played primarily as a center with the Detroit Red Wings, as well as the Chicago Black Hawks and Boston Bruins....
, Billy Dea
Billy Dea
William Fraser Dea was a professional ice hockey centre and head coach in the National Hockey League. He played with the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, and Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring 67 goals and 54 assists in 397 games. In 1975 Dea became an assistant coach with the...
, Lorne Ferguson
Lorne Ferguson
Lorne Ferguson was professional ice hockey left winger who played 422 games in the National Hockey League. Born in Palmerston, Ontario, he played for the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Black Hawks....
and Bill Dineen on December 17, 1957. Bailey again joined Detroit for the playoffs and again had a post-season altercation. During the semi-finals against the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, there was a bench-clearing brawl that all started in the second period, precipitated by Bailey charging Montreal's goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
, Jacques Plante
Jacques Plante
Joseph Jacques Omer Plante was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. During a career lasting from 1947–1975, he was considered to be one of the most important innovators in hockey...
. To settle the teams (and the crowd), referee Frank Udvari
Frank Udvari
Frank Joseph Udvari in Yugoslavia was a NHL referee during the 1950s and 60s. He was the presiding referee during the game which initially sparked the Richard Riot. He was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973.-External links:*...
sent both teams to their dressing rooms and added the 5:22 remaining in that second period to the third stanza. The Canadiens ended up winning 2-1 and knocked Detroit out of the playoffs in four games. The 1957-58 season would be Bailey's last in the NHL.
On July 31, 1958, Bailey was again traded to Cleveland from Detroit, this time for cash. However, Bailey picked up his scoring game for the 1958–59 season
1958–59 AHL season
The 1958–59 AHL season was the 23rd season of the American Hockey League. The Eddie Shore Award was first awarded to the "Defenceman of the year." Six teams played 70 games each in the schedule. The Buffalo Bisons finished first overall in the regular season...
and finished third on the team in scoring and first again in penalty minutes. The following season
1959–60 AHL season
The 1959–60 AHL season was the 24th season of the American Hockey League. Seven teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Quebec Aces become the first Canadian-based team in the league...
saw Bailey playing only five more games for the Barons before being traded for Bill Dineen once again, this time to the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons (AHL)
The Buffalo Bisons were an American Hockey League ice hockey franchise that played from 1940 to 1970 in Buffalo, New York. They replaced the original Buffalo Bisons hockey team, which left the area in 1936 after its arena collapsed...
on October 20, 1959. He would finish out the season in Buffalo at almost a point-per-game pace. In 1960, Bailey was involved in another multiplayer trade on June 7. Bailey, Glen Skov
Glen Skov
Glen Frederick Skov was a centre in the NHL who played for the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks and Montreal Canadiens and is the younger brother of former referee Art Skov. He won 3 Stanley Cups with Detroit in 1952, 1954, 1955.-References:...
, the rights to Danny Lewicki
Danny Lewicki
Daniel Vladimir Lewicki is a retired Canadian ice hockey left winger. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League in the 1950s and early 1960s. Before becoming a professional, Lewicki was at the center of a dispute over...
, Terry Gray
Terry Gray (ice hockey)
Terrence Stanley Gray is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 147 games in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, and St. Louis Blues....
and Lorne Ferguson
Lorne Ferguson
Lorne Ferguson was professional ice hockey left winger who played 422 games in the National Hockey League. Born in Palmerston, Ontario, he played for the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Black Hawks....
went to the Montreal Canadiens for Cecil Hoekstra
Cecil Hoekstra
Cecil Thomas "Cec" Hoekstra is a former ice hockey left winger. He played in 4 NHL games for the Montreal Canadiens...
, Reggie Fleming, Ab McDonald
Ab McDonald
Alvin Brian "Ab" McDonald is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward.McDonald began his National Hockey League career with the Montreal Canadiens in 1958 and retired in 1972. He also played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the St. Louis Blues...
and Bob Courcy
Bob Courcy
Robert 'Bob' Courcy is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. Although he never played in the National Hockey League , he spent several seasons in the American Hockey League and Western Hockey League...
. However he wouldn't see ice time with Montreal as he would spend time with Montreal's minor leagues. Bailey spent the 1960–61 season
1960–61 AHL season
The 1960–61 AHL season was the 25th season of the American Hockey League. Seven teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The All-Star Game was not played, and put on hold until resurrected in the 1994–95 AHL season...
with the Quebec Aces
Quebec Aces
The Quebec Aces, also known in French as Les As de Québec, were an amateur and later a professional men's ice hockey team from Quebec City, Quebec. The Aces were founded in 1928, and played until 1971. The team played home games at the Quebec Coliseum from 1930 to 1971.The Aces were Allan Cup...
and the start of the 1961–62 season
1961–62 AHL season
The 1961–62 AHL season was the 26th season of the American Hockey League. The league initiates the James C. Hendy Memorial Award for outstanding team or league executives. The league resumes East and West Divisions. The John D. Chick Trophy is first awarded for the West Division champions of the...
with the Pittsburgh Hornets before again being traded. This time Bailey would be switching leagues as Pittsburgh traded him to the San Francisco Seals of the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
for Gord Redahl
Gord Redahl
Gordon Charles Redahl was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 18 games in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins in 1958-59.- External links :...
on February 27, 1962.
On the Seals, Bailey failed to put up large numbers and was sent to the Philadelphia Ramblers
Philadelphia Ramblers
The Philadelphia Ramblers were a minor professional ice hockey team based in the Philadelphia Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Ramblers played for six seasons during the infancy of the American Hockey League from 1935 to 1941.-History:...
of the Eastern Hockey League
Eastern Hockey League
-Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972...
. He had his best offensive season to date with the Ramblers, scoring 26 goals for a total of 91 points during the 1962–63 season. He also helped head coach for a short time that season along with Hugh Currie
Hugh Currie
Hugh Roy Currie is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played in one National Hockey League game for the Montreal Canadiens during the 1950–51 NHL season.-External links:...
and Doug Adam
Doug Adam
Douglas Patrick Adam was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and coach. He spent most of his career in the minor leagues, but did play four games in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers...
. In 1963 Bailey was let go, but found a home with the Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
of the International Hockey League.
Ending on a high note
At the end of the 1963–64 season, Bailey was involved in his last professional trade when he was traded to the Dayton Gems for Roger Maisonneuve in November 1964.This turned out to be a great fit as Bailey put up his best numbers ever, scoring a career-high and team-leading 132 points in the 1965–66 season
1965–66 IHL season
This was the 1965-66 International Hockey League season.-Regular season:- Turner Cup-Playoffs :- External Links :* on hockeydb.com...
. In his final season, Bailey was suspended after slugging referee Billy Purcell in a game at Fort Wayne on December 9, 1967. This is what helped convince Bailey to retire in 1968. He had spent four years with the Gems in which he scored 319 points, almost half his total amassed career points.
After hockey
Bailey was honored on March 17, 1970 when he was inducted into the Dayton Hockey Hall of Fame. Long time Fort Wayne General Manager Ken Ullyot called him "the last of the great stick handlers." Gems' goaltender Pat RuppPat Rupp
Patrick Lloyd Rupp was best known as a goaltender in the US ice hockey team in the 1964 and 1968 Winter Olympics....
said Bailey was "the best to ever play hockey in Dayton."
Awards and achievements
- Most assists in a season (87) -- Dayton Gems (1965–66 season)
- Dayton Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee -- March 17, 1970