Bobby Baun 50 Years Later

For Toronto Maple Leafs fans it may be hard to believe, but it has now been exactly 50 years since Bobby Baun scored perhaps the most famous goal in hockey history.

On April 23rd, 1964 Baun scored, as Paul Hunter of the Toronto Star phrases it, "an improbable shot after an implausible return that, 50 years later, still holds a revered place in Maple Leafs lore."

He adds: "An overtime goal in a Stanley Cup final is itself deserving of historic permanence. Add that it was scored on a broken leg and the storyline shifts into myth-making. Such was the magnitude of that dramatic night in an arena that no longer stands, for a team that no longer wins, that it dwarfs the other 1,059 times Baun pulled on an NHL sweater, and remains seared in the memory of Torontonians of a certain age."

Be sure to visit Mr. Hunter's in depth piece on the 50th anniversary of Baun's goal. It includes some brand new video interviews of the now 77 year old Baun.

Here's some further background on the story of Baun's goal -

Bad Hockey Card of the Day: Bobby Baun

On November 3rd, 1970 the Buffalo Sabres claimed veteran defenseman Bobby Baun from the Detroit Red Wings on waivers. The following day the Sabres traded him to St. Louis. Baun refused to report to the Blues, so he was traded again, to Toronto.

Unfortunately for Baun's hockey card, O Pee Chee apparently needed to decide on that day of limbo what to do for his card. So they removed the Red Wings logo, guessed at the team and went with it.

Great Moments In Hockey History: Bobby Baun's Broken Ankle Goal

April 23rd, 1964: Bobby Baun's playoff heroics are what the Stanley Cup is all about.

With 10 minutes left in the sixth game of the 1964 finals between the Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, Bobby Baun fearlessly sacrificed his body, sliding down onto the ice to block a Gordie Howe shot. The heavy shot bounced off Baun’s foot at exactly the worst spot, breaking a bone in Baun's ankle. He was carried away on a stretcher and he should have seen his season to come to an end.

But he didn't.

In one of the most courageous and famous moments in hockey history, Baun returned to the lineup in the very same game. The game had gone into over time, and Baun refused to go to the hospital. Instead he was given painkillers and had his ankle taped tightly, and returned for the extra period of play.

Just a couple of minutes into the over time, Baun became a hero of legendary proportions. Baun picked up a failed Detroit clearing attempt at the blueline and directed a shot on the Detroit goal. It deflected off of Detroit defenseman Bill Gadsby and over Terry Sawchuk and into the net, forcing game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals!!

There was no way Baun would miss game 7. He refused to allow doctors to examine his ankle. He suffered in severe pain but knew if doctors looked at it he would be forced to sit in the biggest game of a professional hockey player's career. He didn't miss a shift that game as the Leafs won 4-0 and tasted champagne from Lord Stanley's Cup.

After the game the doctor's finally x-rayed Baun's ankle. It was revealed that he indeed had a badly broken ankle. That's hockey!

Baun's playoff heroics overshadow a great career....Full Bobby Baun Biography

Classic Snap Shot: Bobby Baun

A battered Bobby Baun enjoys a tasty beverage after a hard fought game.

Great Moments In Hockey History: Bobby Baun's Broken Leg Goal

Bobby Baun's playoff heroics are what the Stanley Cup is all about.

With 10 minutes left in the sixth game of the 1964 finals between the Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, Bobby Baun fearlessly sacrificed his body, sliding down onto the ice to block a Gordie Howe shot. The heavy shot bounced off Baun’s foot at exactly the worst spot, breaking a bone in Baun's ankle. He was carried away on a stretcher and he should have seen his season to come to an end.

But he didn't.

In one of the most courageous and famous moments in hockey history, Baun returned to the lineup in the very same game. The game had gone into over time, and Baun refused to go to the hospital. Instead he was given painkillers and had his ankle taped tightly, and returned for the extra period of play.

Just a couple of minutes into the over time, Baun became a hero of legendary proportions. Baun picked up a failed Detroit clearing attempt at the blueline and directed a shot on the Detroit goal. It deflected off of Detroit defenseman Bill Gadsby and over Terry Sawchuk and into the net, forcing game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals!!

There was no way Baun would miss game 7. He refused to allow doctors to examine his ankle. He suffered in severe pain but knew if doctors looked at it he would be forced to sit in the biggest game of a professional hockey player's career. He didn't miss a shift that game as the Leafs won 4-0 and tasted champagne from Lord Stanley's Cup.

After the game the doctor's finally x-rayed Baun's ankle. It was revealed that he indeed had a badly broken ankle. That's hockey!

Baun's playoff heroics overshadow a great career....Full Bobby Baun Biography

1964: Late Heroics Secure Another Cup Victory For Maple Leafs

The year is 1964. The Stanley Cup championship is played under the slimmest of margins, as the two-time defending champion Toronto Maple Leafs edge Gordie Howe's Detroit Red Wings 4 games to 3.

Two games were decided in overtime, with the teams splitting decisions. Two other games were literally decided in the dying seconds of the game. Bob Pulford scored, shorthanded nonetheless, with just 2 seconds on the clock to give the Leafs a 3-2 win in game one. Alex Delvecchio answered back by winning game three for the Wings with just 17 seconds remaining.

Many wonder why Bob Pulford is in the Hockey Hall of Fame as a player. Well his 1964 playoff performance undoubtedly has a lot to do with it. The Pulford-Eddie Shack-Ron Stewart line held the vaunted Jean Beliveau - Boom Boom Geoffrion - John Ferguson line of the first place Canadiens to only three goals in seven games in round one. In round two he put an end to the brilliant scoring run by Norm Ullman of Detroit, whose line had four goals in the seven games against the Leafs. Pulford was the Leafs star in a 3-2 loss to Montreal, scoring both goals including one shorthanded. He was mentioned as one of the Leafs best players in three of the other games against Montreal for his hard checking and brilliant penalty-killing. In addition to his game one heroics he had two goals and one assist as Toronto won 4-3 in overtime in game six. He had his third short-handed marker in that one and set up the famous overtime marker to take game six.

The famous overtime goal Pulford set up was of course scored by Bobby Baun, with a broken leg nonetheless. In one of the most heroic moments in all of hockey history, Baun scored a goal with a cracked ankle. He had blocked a Delvecchio howitzer, instantly collapsing to the ice in immense pain. He had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher, but he came back in the game, and scored at 1:43 of extra time. He then refused to let doctors look at his foot, and returned for game 7.

NHL Playoff Legends - Bobby Baun

Bobby Baun's playoff heroics are what the Stanley Cup is all about.

With 10 minutes left in the sixth game of the 1964 finals between the Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, Bobby Baun fearlessly sacrificed his body, sliding down onto the ice to block a Gordie Howe shot. The heavy shot bounced off Baun’s foot at exactly the worst spot, breaking a bone in Baun's ankle. He was carried away on a stretcher and he should have seen his season to come to an end.

But he didn't.

In one of the most courageous and famous moments in hockey history, Baun returned to the lineup in the very same game. The game had gone into over time, and Baun refused to go to the hospital. Instead he was given painkillers and had his ankle taped tightly, and returned for the extra period of play.

Just a couple of minutes into the over time, Baun became a hero of legendary proportions. Baun picked up a failed Detroit clearing attempt at the blueline and directed a shot on the Detroit goal. It deflected off of Detroit defenseman Bill Gadsby and over Terry Sawchuk and into the net, forcing game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals!!

There was no way Baun would miss game 7. He refused to allow doctors to examine his ankle. He suffered in severe pain but knew if doctors looked at it he would be forced to sit in the biggest game of a professional hockey player's career. He didn't miss a shift that game as the Leafs won 4-0 and tasted champagne from Lord Stanley's Cup.

After the game the doctor's finally x-rayed Baun's ankle. It was revealed that he indeed had a badly broken ankle. That's hockey!

Baun's playoff heroics overshadow a great career....Full Bobby Baun Biography