Ace Bailey

First to have his number retired in professional sports.

Irvine Wallace "Ace" Bailey (July 3, 1903 – April 7, 1992) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs for eight seasons, from 1926 to 1933. His playing career ended with a hit from Eddie Shore in a game against the Boston Bruins; he was severely injured with a fractured skull when Shore hit Bailey from behind in retaliation for a check by teammate King Clancy. Bailey fell, fracturing his skull upon hitting the ice, and was knocked unconscious. Bailey is the first professional sports player to have a jersey number retired in his honour. Bailey led the NHL in scoring in 1929, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.

Quick Facts

Position: Winger
Shoots: Right
Played for: Toronto Maple Leafs
League: NHL
Born: 3 July 1903
Birthplace: Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada
Died: 7 April 1992
Place of death: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Lore & Background

Bailey's career came to an abrupt end on December 12, 1933, when he was hit from behind by Eddie Shore of the Boston Bruins, and hit his head on the ice, fracturing his skull; he convulsed on the ice of the Boston Garden. This occurred after Maple Leafs teammate King Clancy upended Shore with a hard check as the latter player rushed up the ice. Angry, dazed, and thinking he was going after Clancy, Shore rushed at Bailey intent on revenge. Another teammate, Red Horner knocked Shore out cold with one punch after the incident.

It was feared that Bailey would not survive after severely injuring his head. He came out of a coma for the second time 10 days later, making a full recovery, but did not play professionally again. When he was assured that Bailey would survive, league president Frank Calder suspended Shore for 16 games. An all-star benefit game was held at Maple Leaf Gardens on February 14, 1934, which raised $20,909 for Bailey and his family.

Bailey and Shore shook hands and embraced at centre ice before the game began. Thirteen years later, the NHL introduced an annual all-star game.

Reader's Guide

Bailey's #6 sweater was the first ever to be retired by an NHL team, and is one of the 13 numbers (19 players) to have been permanently retired by the Maple Leafs. In 1968, Bailey asked it be unretired so Ron Ellis could wear it. Over his career, Bailey totaled 111 goals and 82 assists in 313 games. Following his career-ending injury, Bailey asked the NHL if he could work as a linesman, but he was turned down. He coached the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team from 1935 to 1940 and again after World War II from 1945 to 1949, winning three Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union championships. He also worked as a timekeeper at Maple Leaf Gardens from 1938 until his retirement in 1984. On April 1, 1992, Bailey's number was again retired by the Maple Leafs; that same day Bailey had a stroke, and he died on April 7, 1992, of lung failure at the age of 88.

Did You Know?

Bailey was the leading scorer and goal scorer in the NHL in the 1928–29 season, with 22 goals and 32 points in 44 games.
Bailey's #6 jersey was retired on February 14, 1934, making it the first number retirement in professional sports.