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Toronto Maple Leaf: The Best (and Worst) of Harold Ballard

By Brian Westland

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 15: Owner Harold Ballard of the Toronto Maple Leafs Watches the play from the bunker against the Detroit Red Wings during NHL game action on October 15, 1980 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 15: Owner Harold Ballard of the Toronto Maple Leafs Watches the play from the bunker against the Detroit Red Wings during NHL game action on October 15, 1980 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD – APRIL 16: Head coach Roger Neilson of the Philadelphia Flyers watches from the bench during the game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena on April 16, 1999 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Flyers 3-2. (Photo by: Al Bello /Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD – APRIL 16: Head coach Roger Neilson of the Philadelphia Flyers watches from the bench during the game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena on April 16, 1999 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Flyers 3-2. (Photo by: Al Bello /Getty Images) /

Ballad Asks Roger Neilson to Wear Paper Bag Behind the Bench

This was probably the most bizarre request ever made of a Toronto Maple Leafs coach….

During the 1978-79 season, Harold Ballard had planned to fire Leafs coach Roger Neilson following a particularly bad losing streak and then replace Neilson with a newly-hired head coach.

After a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at the Forum in Montreal, Ballard told TV broadcaster Dick Beddoes that Neilson was fired and Beddoes then related the news to the TV audience. Neilson was never formally informed of the firing by Ballard, and he only learned of it on the plane ride back to T.O.

Following the refusals of Eddie Johnson and Gerry McNamara to take up the coaching reins, Ballard briefly toyed with the idea of letting his sidekick, Leafs legend King Clancy take on the job, but thought better of this impulsive notion.

A small group of Toronto Maple Leafs players including Captain Darryl Sittler and enforcer, Dave “Tiger” Williams went to Ballard’s office to plea for Neilson’s job. Ballard was particularly fond of Williams, and if the Tiger was willing to go to bat for the coach, it was good enough for Ballard.

Ballard decide to issue a reprieve to Neilson, but in typical Pal Hal fashion, there was to be a condition: Neilson would have to wear a ski mask or bag over his head as he took the bench at the beginning of the next game.

A paper bag was eventually chosen and while Neilson was prepared to go along with the caper, he was convinced last minute to refuse.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs went on to make the playoffs that season, but lost to the Habs in the second round. Neilson was fired for good at season’s end.

Ballard was one of a kind. He left all his money to charity. Those were the days….

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