Gerry James
Only player to appear in Grey Cup and Stanley Cup Final same season.
Gerry James was a Canadian professional football and ice hockey player. He played as a running back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) between 1952 and 1964 and as a right winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1955 and 1960. He is notable for being the only player to have played in both the Grey Cup and the Stanley Cup Final in the same season (1959–60).
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 22 October 1934
- Birth Place
- Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Death Date
- 13 February 2024 · 1934 · 10 · 22
- Death Place
- Parksville, British Columbia, Canada
- Relatives
- Eddie James (father)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Gerry James began his professional football career at age 17 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1952, becoming one of the youngest CFL players ever. He was a key part of the Bombers' 'run by committee' system, helping the team reach six Grey Cup appearances and win four championships (1958, 1959, 1961, 1962). In 1957, he set a CFL record with 18 rushing touchdowns, a mark that stood until tied in 1981 and surpassed in 2000. He twice won the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian award (1954, 1957). Simultaneously, James played right wing for the Toronto Maple Leafs over five NHL seasons. He won the Memorial Cup with the Toronto Marlboros in 1955, only months after winning his first CFL Most Outstanding Canadian award, and played his first NHL game days after that Memorial Cup victory. In the 1959–60 season, after winning the Grey Cup on November 28, 1959, he rejoined the Maple Leafs and played in the 1960 Stanley Cup Final, becoming the only athlete ever to compete in both championship finals in the same season. After his playing career, James coached in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League for twelve seasons, leading the Yorkton Terriers, Melville Millionaires, and Estevan Bruins to seven winning seasons with a career record of 249 wins, 191 losses, and 14 ties. He later coached one season with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the major junior Western Hockey League.
Reader's Guide
Gerry James is remembered as a rare dual-sport athlete who achieved high-level success in both Canadian football and professional hockey. His unique feat of playing in the Grey Cup and Stanley Cup Final in the same calendar year (1959–60) remains unmatched. In the CFL, he was a dominant running back and kicker, setting a long-standing rushing touchdown record and finishing his career as the second all-time leading Canadian rusher behind Normie Kwong. His four Grey Cup victories with the Blue Bombers and two Most Outstanding Canadian awards place him among the league's greats. In the NHL, though his statistics were modest, his ability to transition between sports mid-season demonstrated exceptional athletic versatility. James was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1981, joining his father Eddie James, who was inducted in 1963. He was also inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1982 and selected as one of the Blue Bombers All-Time Greats. His later years included coaching junior hockey in Saskatchewan and a period living in British Columbia, where he participated in competitive darts.
More in Toronto Maple Leafs Players 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced