Calendar Memories: the 1962 Maple Leaf calendar

When I was maybe 4 or 5, I remember my Dad, or maybe my brothers, had these neat old “calendars” of the Montreal Canadiens. They had the usual team picture on the front page, with the Cup in front of captain Maurice “Rocket” Richard and all the players wearing their classic red home uniforms

But the most visually-appealing aspect, for a youngster, was the game-action photos that were included a few pages into the calendar. For some reason those photos stand out. (I think they were pictures from the previous spring’s playoffs.) I also loved the photos of the NHL trophy winners such as the Art Ross trophy for leading scorer, James Norris trophy for best defenseman, Calder trophy for top rookie, etc.

When I was old enough to write my own letters properly, I sent away to the Maple Leafs to see if they had a calendar. That was in the fall of 1962 when I had just turned 9. I don’t honestly remember if I sent money, perhaps 50 cents or a dollar. But for two years, I sent for and received the Leafs annual calendar, my favorite being the one shown on this site, the 1962-’63 edition, which features a picture of the 1961-’62 Cup-winning team on the front.

The home blue Leaf uniforms, against the yellow backdrop, set off the photo quite nicely. Now, almost 50 years later, it’s still something to see not only the big names like Bower, Mahovlich, Horton, Pulford, Stanley, Horton, Brewer, Baun, Duff, Keon and Kelly, but the so-called “lesser lights” who contributed significantly to the championship victory during the season and/or the playoffs—Bert Olmstead, Edie Shack, Billy Harris, Larry Hillman, Don Simmons and young Johnny MacMillan.

Fortunately, I’ve always kept this item as a wonderful memory of my youth—and a great Leaf team.