Session 1 Live and On-line June 20th, 7:30 PM EST (Lots 1-43)

Lot #38:

Conn Smyth MLG Photo

Nice original photo from Maple Leafs Gardens that hung in the hallowed halls of the very famous building. Hap day shown here laughing, leaning up against the boards at the rink, enjoying some downtime with the hat of the times and dressed as the fans did in his day. The photo is set around the mid fifties while he was acting General Manager of the Leafs for the 1955 to the 1957 season.  These types of photos were sold at the Gardens auctions years ago. They don't come up for auction often as they are mostly in private hands. Take this one home today for your collection. The size is 22 ½ inches in height and 18 ½ inches wide.  Day was born in Owen Sound, Ontario. He played for the Hamilton Tigers of the Ontario Hockey association in 1922-23 and 1923-24 and then joined the hockey team at the University of Toronto where he was enrolled as a pharmacy major. Day was persuaded to turn professional in 1924 by Charlie Querrie, owner of the Toronto St. Pats. He played left wing in his rookie season and then switched to defence, where he would remain for the rest of his career. He became team captain in 1926. In 1927, the St. Pats were purchased by Conn Smythe and renamed the Toronto Maple Leafs and Smythe kept Day as team captain. He also became a partner in Smythe's sand and gravel business. After Smythe acquired star defenceman King Clancy from the  in 1931, Day and Clancy formed one of the top defence pairings in the NHL. The team won the  in 1932. While still playing for the Leafs, Day became coach of the   junior team and led them to a  victory in . On September 23, 1937, Day was sold to the  and spent one season there before retiring as a player in 1938. His 11-year tenure as captain of the St. Pats/Maple Leafs is second only to . Day worked as a referee for the next two years before returning to the Leafs as coach. He guided the team through the 1940s, winning the Stanley Cup five times in 10 seasons. He is still the second-winningest coach in Leafs history. Smythe promoted Day to assistant general manager in 1950. His name was engraved on the cup a 7th time in 1951. In 1955, Smythe gave Day control over most hockey operations, but remained general manager on paper. Just after the Leafs were eliminated in the playoffs in March 1957, Day was publicly embarrassed by Smythe, who told the media that he didn't know if Day was available to return to the Leafs for the following season. Officially, Day resigned, but behind the scenes he had been pushed out and was replaced by a committee headed by Smythe's son . Day retired to enter business life, running Elgin Handles in ,  until selling it to his son in 1977. Day was almost convinced by  to become the first general manager of the  in 1967, but he decided not to take the job, recommending  instead. Day died in St. Thomas at age 88 in 1990. He and his number 4 were honoured (but not retired) by the Maple Leafs on October 4, 2006 at the .