“The Maple Leafs of My Youth”—a new e-book now available from Vintage Leaf Memories!

One of the “projects” I’ve been working on this summer has been a pleasant one indeed.  It is the creation of a new Leaf-oriented e-book entitled, “The Maple Leafs of My Youth: what being a Leaf fan means to me”.

While a bit more of an arduous task than I initially envisioned, a first step has been completed at long last.  For now, it is only available on Apple iTunes/iBooks for those with an iPad (I don’t own an iPad, so I can’t even see my own book…), but it’s a start.  My wife and partner (of 35 years!) has done yeoman’s work in walking me through the various hurdles and the technology involved in this process.  Because of her efforts, I’ve been mostly able to focus on what I love doing: writing about my personal recollections of Leaf players and executives as well as the many wonderful events, games and moments that were such an important part of my young life as a sports and hockey fan, going back to the late 1950s.

The fact is, this won’t be a book for everyone, obviously.  As is the case with this blog, it has no statistical basis.  I did zero research for my stories so it’s not really a hockey history book. It’s certainly not humorous and it’s not really about the current Maple Leaf squad—except that the book is very much about not only old-time memories, but why the Leafs still matter to me (and to millions of supporters around the globe) to this day. For me, the past is very much linked to the Maple Leaf present, especially when it comes to things like heritage and legacy and some of the great names of my youth, including Smythe, Clancy, Bower, Chadwick, Mahovlich, Stanley, Dickie Duff (right), Allan Kelly,  Ronnie Ellis, Mike Walton and so many others.


Were it not for them (and I could throw in Sittler, McDonald, Palmateer, Salming and great Leafs from the '80s and '90s), supporting the current version of the Maple Leafs just wouldn't be the same.

The book is based purely on my own personal memories and the opinions and perspectives developed from what I remember and have seen myself since I started following the Leafs.  For me, memories matter- and history matters. And our Maple Leaf history is very much tied to the present, regardless of what new MLSE President Tim Leiweke has said. Thinking about and caring about the past doesn't detract from the present.  It only enriches the good moments we experience now.

That personal devotion as a fan is still ever-present for me - and many others - despite a lack of championship hardware to brag about since 1967.  (If the Leafs were Manchester United in soccer, for example, that would be a long time between trophies.  But Man U., of course, has several opportunities every season to take some silverware home, beyond just the Premier League title.  The Leafs play for only one trophy a season and in my mind, it is the hardest championship trophy in sports to win.  You have to first earn a playoff berth, and then endure through (and emerge victorious from) four grueling best-of-seven playoff rounds. The victor finishes a season well into June that started back in September.

It ain’t easy, as the Leafs have demonstrated lo these past 45 plus seasons.

But back to the book:  yes, we hope to have it on other platforms in the weeks ahead, though there are steps involved that will require more time and attention.  But for those who are interested in the book and have an iPad, here are links to the page where you can purchase and download it:

In Canada this is the iBooks/iTunes link

In the U.S. this is the iBooks/iTunes link

It is available in many other countries (from New Zealand and Portugal to Brazil and Finland and of course the U.K., where Leaf support is very passionate), but I don’t know off-hand what the direct links are.  (I’m guessing that it can be accessed by putting the name of the book into an Apple iTunes search.)

Many people have encouraged me in the past to write a book, not only within my family but visitors to and those who have become friends through VLM.  And I thank those individuals for their support and encouragement.  After now almost four full years of developing Vintage Leaf Memories—which began in September, 2009—the time did feel right to complete this book.  I am already (if response to this initial effort is encouraging) preparing to continue with a series of Leaf-related memoirs in the weeks and months ahead.

I think those who check in on VLM from time to time know that I enjoy what I do here.  I derive real joy from my interactions with the many thoughtful Leaf observers who stop by here and regularly take the time to comment on my posts, whether about "the old days" or the present state of affairs with the Leafs.  I respect their views and try to provide a forum for all to share and interact in the same spirit.

I sincerely hope that those who take the time to read “The Maple Leafs of My Youth” will not only enjoy it but find it was time well spent.  If I’ve done my job well enough, the stories therein may even help to give a bit more meaning to why so many of us—young and old alike—around the world care about and remain devoted to the blue and white to this very day.