Harold Ballard

Lore & Background

Ballard joined the Maple Leafs organization in 1940, running the Toronto Marlboros senior and junior teams. In 1957 he moved up to the Leafs as part of a committee overseeing hockey operations, later known as the 'Silver Seven'.

In November 1961, he became part-owner after Conn Smythe sold most of his shares to a consortium including Ballard, Stafford Smythe, and John W. H. Bassett. Ballard fronted Stafford Smythe most of the $2.3 million purchase price. As executive vice president, he played a key role in the Leafs' dynasty that won Stanley Cups in 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1967.

Ballard soon displayed tendencies that made him one of the most detested owners in NHL history. After the advent of colour television, he installed a new lighting system that caused glare for players; when Hockey Night in Canada's president balked at paying for the upgrade, Ballard grabbed a fireman's ax and threatened to cut the TV cable. He also removed a large portrait of Queen Elizabeth II to make room for more seats, remarking, 'She doesn't pay me, I pay her. Besides, what the hell position can a queen play?' He booked The Beatles for three tours, but on the 1965 tour he sold tickets for two shows despite an agreement for one, turned up the heat, shut off water fountains, delayed concerts, and sold only large soft drinks at triple price.

In 1969, Ballard and Stafford Smythe were charged with tax evasion for using Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to pay personal expenses. Bassett, then chairman, won an 8–7 board vote to fire them, but did not force them to sell their shares, a strategic blunder. Ballard became majority owner in February 1972 and held that role until his death in 1990.

Early Foundations and the Road to the NHL

Fletcher entered the hockey world in 1956 as a scout for the Montreal Canadiens working under Sam Pollock, before taking on the general manager role with the Verdun Blues junior club. His next major step came in 1966 when the expansion St. Louis Blues hired him as their Eastern Canada scout; he climbed to assistant general manager and helped steer the franchise to the Stanley Cup Final in each of its first three seasons, a streak that remains unmatched.

His first true GM assignment arrived in January 1971, when a mid-season leadership overhaul at the Kansas City Blues of the Central Hockey League placed him in the top seat. By 1972 he was handed the reins of the expansion Atlanta Flames, his first NHL GM post. Over the decades that followed, his reputation as a sharp negotiator and strategic thinker earned him the enduring nicknames 'The Silver Fox' and 'Trader Cliff,' monikers that stuck with him throughout an eight-decade career spanning scouting, management, and advisory roles across multiple franchises.

Reader's Guide

Ballard's significance lies in his dual role as owner of both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Maple Leaf Gardens, and his influence on the financial performance of the arena. Within three years under the new ownership group, profits at the Gardens tripled to just under $1 million. He negotiated lucrative advertising deals and greatly increased seating capacity, expanding the building's use for concerts and conventions. His four Stanley Cup wins as part-owner (1962, 1963, 1964, 1967) mark the Leafs' last championship era.

Off the ice, his tenure was marked by controversial and confrontational behavior, including the tax evasion charges in 1969 and his aggressive dealings with broadcasters and performers. He also owned the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1978 to 1988, winning a Grey Cup in 1986. His legacy is that of a builder who delivered championships but whose methods and personality made him widely detested. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977 and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

Did You Know?

• Ballard was born Edwin Harold Ballard but later reversed his names and referred to himself as Harold E. Ballard.
• He was appointed assistant manager of the Varsity Grads team that won the hockey gold medal at the 1928 Winter Olympics.
• In 1962, Ballard tried to introduce a hockey-style penalty box to soccer, but FIFA did not allow the rule change.