Busher Jackson
Busher Jackson | |||
---|---|---|---|
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1971 | |||
Born |
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | January 17, 1911||
Died |
June 25, 1966 Toronto, Ontario, Canada | (aged 55)||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
Position |
Defence | ||
Shot | Left | ||
Played for |
Toronto Maple Leafs New York Americans Boston Bruins | ||
Playing career | 1929–1944 |
Ralph Harvey Jackson (January 17, 1911 – June 25, 1966) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Jackson played 15 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons between 1929 and 1944 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Americans, and Boston Bruins. He was a member of the Maple Leafs' famed Kid Line with Joe Primeau and Charlie Conacher, one of the early NHL's dominant scoring trios. Jackson led the league in scoring in 1931–32 and was a member of Toronto's 1932 Stanley Cup championship team. He was named to five NHL All-Star teams and played in three benefit All-Star Games, including the Ace Bailey Benefit Game, the first All-Star contest in NHL history.
Off the ice, Jackson was well-known for his high-spending lifestyle and drinking habit that prompted his trade from Toronto to New York in 1939. He was remembered as one of hockey's tragic figures following his retirement, as he struggled with alcoholism and financial difficulty. In the 1960s, Jackson was a figure of controversy within the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee, as the Hall used his lifestyle and personal problems to block his induction. He finally earned a place in the Hall of Fame in 1971, five years after his death. Jackson is also an honoured member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, which he was inducted into in 1975. He was the brother of fellow NHL player Art Jackson.
Playing career
Junior
Jackson grew up in Toronto, playing his youth hockey at "Poverty Pond" in the city's east side before playing at the
Toronto Maple Leafs
Joining the Maple Leafs for the 1929–30 season, the 18-year-old Jackson was the youngest player in the National Hockey League (NHL).[4] In his league debut against the Montreal Canadiens, Jackson knocked over his idol Howie Morenz with a bodycheck. Assessing the youngster's potential following the hit, Morenz offered, "you'll do."[6] Jackson appeared in 31 games for the Leafs, scoring 12 goals and adding 6 assists.[3] He missed some time due to injury, during which he earned his nickname from the team's trainer, Tim Daly. According to Jackson: "Daly asked me to carry sticks for him. I told him I wasn't a stick boy, I was a hockey player. So he said I was nothing but a fresh busher [a term for someone who had just been called up from the minors] and the name stuck."[7]
During his first season, Jackson was placed on a line with two other young players. Charlie Conacher, a teammate of his with the Marlboros, played right wing and Joe Primeau was their centre. The trio formed what became known as the "Kid Line," one of the early NHL's most famous scoring trios.[8] Primeau was the line's playmaker, whose passes set up both Conacher and Jackson's goal-scoring ability.[9]
Following a 31-point season in 1930–31, Jackson led the NHL in scoring with 53 points in 1931–32. At 21 years, 3 months old, he became the youngest scoring champion in NHL history, a record he would hold until 1980–81, when it was broken by Wayne Gretzky.[4] Jackson's 28 goals that season was the most he would score in his career,[3] and he was named to the NHL's First All-Star team for the first time of his career.[4] He added five goals in the 1932 playoffs, including one of Toronto's six in the deciding game of the 1932 Stanley Cup Finals, a 6–4 victory over the New York Rangers that clinched Toronto's first Stanley Cup championship since 1922.[10]
The Kid Line remained Toronto's top offensive threat for several years; Jackson, Conacher and Primeau were the team's top three scorers for four consecutive seasons between 1932 and 1935. Following his league-leading season, Jackson led Toronto offensively in 1932–33 with 44 points.[11] On November 20, 1934, Jackson set an NHL record when he became the first player in NHL history to score four goals in a period, notching four markers in the third period of a 5–2 victory over the St. Louis Eagles. The record has not been surpassed through 2019, though eleven players have matched it.[12] He was named to three additional All-Star teams during this time, placed on the second team in 1932–33 and on the first team in both 1933–34 and 1934–35.[4] Additionally, Jackson played in the Ace Bailey Benefit Game on February 14, 1934.[13] Held in support of injured teammate Ace Bailey, it was the first all-star game in NHL history.[14] Jackson scored two goals for the Maple Leafs in a 7–3 victory over the NHL All-Stars.[13]
Following four consecutive 20-goal seasons, Jackson slipped to 11 goals in 1935–36.[4] The Kid Line was finally broken up. While they remained consistent offensive performers, they lacked defensive ability and opposing teams began to find success playing their own top scoring lines against the trio.[15] Primeau subsequently retired in 1936 in favour of his business interests.[9] Despite the break-up, Jackson scored 21 goals and 40 points in 1936–37 to earn his fourth and final appearance on the first All-Star team.[4]
Prior to the start of the 1937–38 season, Jackson played with the NHL All-Stars in the Howie Morenz Memorial Game, the NHL's second benefit all-star contest.[16] In regular league play, his offence entered a decline as he scored 34 points that season, then 27 in 1938–39.[3] Following the season, the Maple Leafs traded him to the
New York and Boston
Prior to his first season in New York, Jackson played in his third benefit all-star game, the
Joining the Bruins gave Jackson the opportunity to play alongside his younger brother
Personal life
Considered to have the looks of a movie star,[15] Jackson lived the lifestyle of a Hollywood actor during his playing career, spending money freely, driving fast cars, and attending posh parties. Maple Leafs' owner Conn Smythe unsuccessfully tried to convince Jackson to save his money for the future, even offering to match his player's savings dollar for dollar.[1] Jackson's habits, particularly his drinking, ultimately played a role in his trade away from Toronto.[25] Jackson's lifestyle came crashing down following his retirement as a player, as he no longer had the money to fund his pursuits.[1] He unsuccessfully tried to overcome his alcoholism,[26] lost two marriages to divorce, struggled to hold a job, and it was said that he could be found outside Maple Leaf Gardens trying to sell broken sticks of Maple Leaf players to try to make some money.[1] He emerged as one of hockey's tragic figures.[25]
Jackson suffered a series of injuries and ailments in his later years. In 1958, he broke his neck after falling down a flight of stairs. His recovery took 18 months and cost him mobility in his right hand. Two months after his release, Jackson returned to hospital with a bout of
As Jackson's health failed,
Career statistics
Regular season
|
Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1927–28 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA-Jr. | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
1928–29 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA-Jr. | 9 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 9 | — | ||
1928–29 | Toronto Marlboros | Mem. Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 15 | 10 | 25 | 4 | ||
1929–30 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 32 | 12 | 6 | 18 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1930–31 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 43 | 18 | 13 | 31 | 81 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
1931–32 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 48 | 28 | 25 | 53 | 63 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 13 | ||
1932–33 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 48 | 27 | 17 | 44 | 43 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | ||
1933–34 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 38 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 38 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | ||
1934–35 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 42 | 22 | 22 | 44 | 27 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | ||
1935–36 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 47 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | ||
1936–37 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 46 | 21 | 19 | 40 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
1937–38 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 48 | 17 | 17 | 34 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | ||
1938–39 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 42 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
1939–40 | New York Americans | NHL | 43 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
1940–41 | New York Americans | NHL | 46 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1941–42 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 27 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
1942–43 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 44 | 19 | 15 | 34 | 38 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | ||
1943–44 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 42 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
NHL totals | 636 | 241 | 234 | 475 | 437 | 71 | 18 | 12 | 30 | 55 |
References
- Career statistics: "Busher Jackson player card". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
- ^ ISBN 0-385-25999-9.
- ISBN 1-55017-170-4.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Busher Jackson statistics". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-55407-662-8.
- ISBN 1-55017-170-4.
- ^ "Busher Jackson biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ISBN 978-1-55407-662-8.
- ^ a b "Honoured Member – Harvey Jackson". Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ^ a b "Honoured Member – Joe Primeau". Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ^ "Pro hockey title returns to Toronto". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. April 11, 1932. p. 11. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ^ Park, Pat, ed. (2011). 2011–12 Toronto Maple Leafs Media Guide. Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club. pp. 199–201.
- ^ Park, Pat, ed. (2011). 2011–12 Toronto Maple Leafs Media Guide. Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club. p. 201.
- ^ ISBN 0-00-200058-X.
- ^ "Hockey benefit nets Ace Bailey roll of $20,909", Miami News, p. 14, February 15, 1934, retrieved November 20, 2010[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d Carroll, Dink (June 27, 1966). "Busher Jackson dies". Montreal Gazette. p. 28. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ISBN 0-00-200058-X.
- ^ Shields, Tommy (May 27, 1939). "Round and round the sports wheel". Ottawa Citizen. p. 12. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
- ISBN 0-385-25999-9.
- ^ "Syl Apps shines as All-Stars beat Canadiens in Siebert Memorial Game". Calgary Herald. October 30, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ "Dutton, Jackson are $1,000 apart". Edmonton Journal. October 27, 1941. p. 7. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ a b "Harvey Jackson joins Bruins". Calgary Herald. January 5, 1942. p. 10. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ISBN 0-929091-26-4.
- ISBN 978-1517362911.
- ^ "Busher Jackson quitting hockey". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. October 24, 1944. p. 13. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ a b McLachlan, Lloyd (February 16, 1985). "End might not justify means". Windsor Star. p. B3. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Busher Jackson". Regina Leader-Post. August 28, 1971. p. 5. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Legendary Busher Jackson dies in Toronto". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. June 27, 1966. p. 18. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ "Jackson goes to hospital". Regina Leader-Post. February 8, 1962. p. 28. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ Coleman, Jim (June 11, 1969). "Jim Coleman's column for June 11, 1969". Calgary Herald. p. 41. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ "Smythe leaves 'Hall'". Montreal Gazette. June 12, 1971. p. 27. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ "Sawchuk among five honored by hockey". Spokane Spokesman-Review. August 25, 1971. p. 26. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
- )
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database