Your suggestions have been submitted and will be reviewed by the memorial manager. In 1944, Ballard formed Harold E. Ballard Ltd., the personal holding company he would later use to purchase shares in Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. When she didnt travel with the team, she would arrange for suitable food to be sent to Harolds hotel room, ensuring the diabetic would eat well. Pennants proclaiming National Hockey League championships, Stanley Cup victories and other triumphs used to hang from the rafters of Maple Leaf Gardens. However, the Maple Leafs under Ballard were one of the league's most financially successful teams. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Paul Henderson and Mike Pelyk followed a year later. He was "Billy" to his friends, and he had many of those. He said it served the guy right, that it would do him some good.''. ''He was an original, colorful and challenging individual,'' Mr. Ziegler said yesterday. All results for Harrold Ballard Edit SearchNew SearchJump to Filters To get better results, add more information such as Birth Info, Death Info and Locationeven a guess will help. He was convicted of fraud and sent to Millhaven Institution. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). ''If there's gold on that ship, it doesn't matter what flag you fly,'' Mr. Smythe said. Their .300 winning percentage was the second-worst in franchise history. Harold Edwin Ballard (born Edwin Harold Ballard, July 30, 1903 April 11, 1990) was a Canadian businessman and sportsman. "When you get into the business at age 38, like I did, you're either crazy or you've got a great champion on your side. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. . Priestley, the narrator and director of "Offside: the Harold Ballard Story, wants Canadians to draw their own conclusions on the irascible sports magnate who also owned the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Toros owner John F. Bassett (son of the elder John Bassett) had negotiated a lease with the elder Ballard's son, Bill. "He was in the shadow of his father and maybe I got more attention, but he was awfully sharp. A system error has occurred. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Police surround the vehicle, and gunfire is heard on the video. Benjamin Harold Ballard, 42, was shot and killed in a traffic altercation at SW 59 and Mustang Road about 6:45 p.m. Friday, June 5, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation reported. Harold Mark was born on April 25, 1935, at the birthing house in Le Sueur County to the proud parents of Lawrence and Emily (Bastyr) Beckman. When the group's manager objected, Mr. Ballard told him the fans would tear down the building with the Beatles in it if they didn't do two shows. A visitation will be held on Friday, August 7, from 5-7 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation, 833 S. Marschall Road, Shakopee. A year later, they moved to the Gardens. For the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Ballard was appointed assistant manager of the Varsity Grads team that won the hockey gold medal. AGE undefined Harold Ballard North Highlands, CA View Full Report Relatives Nilajay Butler Phone Address AGE 70s Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. In November 1961, Conn Smythe sold most of his shares in Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to a consortium of his son Stafford, Toronto Telegram owner John Bassett, and Ballard. HAROLD BALLARD OBITUARY Harold G. Ballard, born November 20, 1932 in New Orleans and a resident of the Central Community since 1960, died Sunday July 1, 2018. He installed himself as president and chairman of Maple Leaf Gardens and governor of the Maple Leafs. [11] Gregory learned of the news when he received a call from an NHL executive offering him the directorship of the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, unbeknownst to him that Ballard had fired him.[11]. ''Harold hit him one shot; knocked him kicking,'' Mr. Clancy said in a 1984 interview. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. referee, angered a fan by accidentally knocking over the man's beer. Three money-losing seasons later, in January 1978, DeGroote contacted Ballard and sold him the club for $1.3 million. He could not get enough of his grandma's cooking. However, this was largely because Ballard was unwilling to increase the payroll in order to improve the on-ice product, despite playing in the fourth-largest market. Family and friends may call at the Amos Carvelli Funeral Home, 201 Edison Street, Nutter Fort on Sunday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, where funeral services will be held on Monday, March 6, 2023 at 11:00 am. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. He was 58. You saw the seeds of a great promoter. Never paid any taxes for me. But he did more than work for his father. Obituary Harold B. He was 86 years old and had spent most of the last two years in and out of hospitals because of diabetes-related heart problems. CPI had an exclusive arrangement with the arena, which left most rival promoters out in the cold. We have set your language to Ballard never forgave the WHA for this, and became the leader of the hardline faction of NHL owners who opposed any merger with the upstart league. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? He is survived by three children: William, Harold Jr. and Mary. But Mr. Ballard became ill, called off the wedding and entered the hospital. Burial Date: March 6, 2023. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the. Showcase your loved one's life story with a featured obituary. At the same time, Ballard continued to work for Ballard Machinery, and took over the business after his father's retirement in 1935. Burke Mortuary of Maiden Inc. And I had Billy on my side.". Mr. Ballard's will may determine his heir and the next owner of the team and building. In return, he was given an option to buy Maple Leaf Gardens shares from Ballard's estate. In the end, they reportedly settled on somewhere between $2 million and $5 million in total, plus two seats at the Gardens. [email protected] us a memory of someone we have recently profiled on the Obituaries page. She fought with Ballard's family and partners over Ballard's estate following his death. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Yolanda Ballard, the former companion of crusty Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard who became a central figure in the circus surrounding the franchise in the 1980s and 90s, has died. More recently, as president of Orion Capital, he ventured into mining interests. Funds were also used to renovate his Midland cottage, to rent limousines for his daughter's wedding in 1967, and to buy motorcycles for his sons (passing off the expense as hockey equipment for the Marlboros), as well as placing money belonging to the corporation into a private bank account that he controlled along with Stafford Smythe. [7], When the NHL finally did take in four WHA teams after the 197879 season, Ballard refused to support the deal. It's true that few men other than Mr. Ballard could have placed a relative novice such as Mr. McDermott on a national tour with the world's premier Celtic group, the Chieftains. Ballard refused, citing it as a threat to program sales. "They loved each other deeply," Mr. Cohl says. [1] For the 1962 season, Ballard tried to introduce a hockey-style penalty box to soccer, but the rule change was not allowed by FIFA. The Leafs, historically one of hockey's best franchises, gradually became one of its worst teams through the 1980's. [10] After the season, where the Maple Leafs were swept in the quarterfinals by the Canadiens, Ballard fired general manager Jim Gregory, replacing him with his predecessor, Punch Imlach. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. In regard to spotlights, Mr. Ballard didn't seek them himself. He negotiated lucrative deals to place advertising throughout the building, and greatly increased the number of seats in the Gardens. In September 1981, after Imlach had another heart attack during training camp, Ballard told the media that Imlach's poor health meant that "he's through as general manager". This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. He also removed the cushions from the home bench for Toros' games (he told an arena worker, "Let 'em buy their own cushions!") Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Phone: (828) 428-2460 Fax: (828) 428-4154 1101 East Maiden Road, P.O. Concert Productions International would become a hugely profitable enterprise and a game-changing innovator in full-service touring in North America. GREAT NEWS! Gord Stellick, the Leafs general manager in 1988-89 and Bobs brother, recalled that she just appeared at the Gardens one day (holding a cake, according to some accounts, and refusing to leave until he spoke to her). They would not post a winning record again in Ballard's lifetime, going a franchise-record 13 consecutive seasons without a winning record. In 1955, she met Bill MacMillan, the son of a noted magistrate. Imlach was as staunchly anti-union as Ballard; during his first stint in Toronto, he had been one of Eagleson's most ardent foes. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Weve updated the security on the site. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. [31], In 1989, Bill Ballard was convicted of assaulting Yolanda and fined $500. [6] During the time Harold was in prison, his son Bill managed the Maple Leaf Gardens. Dr. Henry Harold Ballard, age 79, of Grand Prairie, Texas passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Harold Vance Delk Jr., age 78, a resident of Bertrand, died Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, at the Charleston Manor. "[4], He also expanded the number of concerts, entertainment acts, and conventions booked in the building. She was a canning manager and was a. At the same time, Hockey Canada and the NHL Players Association had negotiated an agreement to hold an eight-game tournament between Canadian professional hockey players and the top players from the Soviet Union. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. During his tenure, he repeatedly threatened to move the franchise to Toronto (70 km north). I mean, he didn't get his law degree from a Cheerios box. Ballard wasn't initially named to the committee when it was unveiled in March 1957, but took the place of Ian Johnston nine months later. At age 54, Ballard was the oldest member of the group, which were otherwise all in their 30s and 40s. February 28, 1945 - October 12, 2021. Bill Ballard, right, with singer Tom Cochrane and music publicist James Monaco at the opening of the musical Tommy in Toronto in 1995. JEAN BALLARD OBITUARY. (His father had made the team's skates.) There was a problem getting your location. "Silent runner or not, an incident in 1989 put Mr. Ballard in the public arena, where the light was not always flattering. Ballard left his personal belongings to his children and grandchildren. Soon, they were a couple. As it turns out, he didn't win the brawl for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Born to Fred and Merleen Steele, David grew up in Pennsylvania and New Mexico. They returned to Toronto where his father, English-born Sidney Eustace Ballard, founded Ballard Machinery Supplies Co., a sewing machine manufacturer, which at one point was one of Canada's leading manufacturers of ice skates (it went out of the business in the early 1930s, when the Canadian skate market was dominated by CCM). Box 716 Maiden, NC 28650. Yolanda Ballard, who died in her sleep on June 3, is survived by daughter Ana MacMillan, son Bill MacMillan, granddaughter Molly and extended family, as well as longtime caregiver Astrid von Czieslik. You can always change this later in your Account settings. During his tenure as owner of the Tiger-Cats, Ballard for a short time had the Tiger-Cats logo painted at centre ice of Maple Leaf Gardens in place of the blue Maple Leaf. In gratitude, Williams shot a bear during a winter hunt and skinned it for Ballard's office. Even after the NHL-WHA merger was finalized over Ballard's objections, it was only the intervention of NHL President John Ziegler that finally persuaded Ballard to not reclaim Keon's rights (which would have effectively ended his career) and allow him to play three more seasons with the mediocre Hartford Whalers. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution At age 68, Ballard won a battle with Stafford's family and bought his shares, giving him a 60 percent controlling interest in the Gardens. Shortly after, Ballard tried to buy the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from owner Michael DeGroote, but that offer was also rejected. The singer was nearing 40 years old and working at The Toronto Sun when he embarked on a performing career. After Day became coach of the Leafs in 1940, he recommended Ballard to the Leaf organization to run the Toronto Marlboros, the senior and junior teams owned by the Leafs. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. His last months were filled with court fights involving his children. One drunken, hollering student jumped into their front seat looking for a ride, scaring the kids in the back seat. At the time, the CFL still consisted of two autonomous conferences. That deal closed in 1994, and shortly after Stavro bought Ballard's shares from the estate for $34 a share or $75 million. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10477/harold-ballard. She claimed to have been with Ballard for eight years at the time of his death. However, many players were unwilling to sign with Toronto in any event because of Ballard's reputation. She was led to the Lord by her grandfather at the age of 10 and dedicated her life to Christ at . In August, just weeks before the series began, Ballard was convicted on 47 of the charges. His disregard for his father's companion, the convicted fraud artist Yolanda MacMillan, made headlines when he was found guilty of assaulting her during an incident at Maple Leaf Gardens and fined $500. His acquisition of the Leafs, one of Canada's most revered properties, came shortly before Mr. Ballard served a year in jail on a fraud conviction for diverting money from the Gardens' accounts to his own. Shortly after taking control of the Leafs, Ballard stood trial on 49 counts of fraud, theft and tax evasion involving $205,000. After being fined, he backed down and put the names in the opposite colours. Caught between a great inheritance in the sports world and an artistic career, he chose to lay bricks and paint. BALLARD, Bura (WOOD); 88; Greenfield IN; 2006-Dec-27; Bura Ballard BALLARD, Dorothy L (CROWELL); ; Indianapolis IN; 2007-Jan-3; Dorothy Ballard Even though the Leafs were barely competitive for much of the latter part of Ballard's tenure, every game at Maple Leaf Gardens was sold out. [9], During the 197879 season, with the Leafs struggling to make the playoffs, Ballard fired the team's popular head coach, Roger Neilson, against the wishes of the players. View Harold Edwin Ballard's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more. Ballard was a sports enthusiast from a young age and began running hockey teams in Toronto in the early 1930s. Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.33, Penguin Books. Failed to delete memorial. Not wanting to unnerve Mr. McDermott with the sight of an empty seat where his dad was supposed to be, Mr. Ballard spent the first half of the concert trying in vain to find a lookalike to pass for the senior McDermott. Mr. Ballard was a victor mostly, though nervy, cunning, garrulous, generous, protective of friends, formidable as an adversary and sharp as a tack, by all accounts. He will be remembered by many because of his father, and for his partnership in CPI's revolutionary development of the live music industry and associations with legendary acts such as the Who, Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones. Obituary James Harold Ballard, of Sharpsburg, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2020. That triggered a mutiny among some of the team's top players, who resigned from the squad in November. August 17, 2016 Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband Harold of 65 years and her son Gregory (Sharon); grandchildren, Nicole (Stephen), Eric. October 12, 1925 - November 25, 2016 Salem, Virginia Set a Reminder for the Anniversary of Harold's Passing. "He fought for the underdog," Mr. McDermott says. [8], At the time Ballard took over, the Leafs' captain was Dave Keon, who had been with the team since 1960. Oops, something didn't work. On the night of the singer's first major concert at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, the plan was to put the spotlight on Mr. McDermott's father in the audience during the show. '', Mr. Ballard never let high position inhibit his tongue or his behavior. On November 15, 2019, . "Peace is wonderful, but ", Frank Orr, Cole, Stephen. Harold Ballard. Entombment will be in the Floral Hills Memorial Gardens. [25] After the Tiger Cats beat the Toronto Argonauts in the 1986 Eastern Final, Ballard said "You guys may still be overpaid, but after today, no one can call you losers. In 1973, the WHA moved the Ottawa Nationals to Toronto as the Toronto Toros. But they were taken down (on the premise that they were obstructing some customers' views). McKee, Harold Alexander (Reverend) Passed away peacefully at Henley House, St. Catharines, on Monday February 18, 2019 at the age of 86. Soon after taking over as majority owner, he forced out several longtime front-office personnel and replaced them with his own men. After Ballard's release from prison, he had an apartment built at the Gardens facing Church Street where he would live through most of the year, while spending summers at his cottage near Lafontaine, Ontario in the Thunder Beach community. The executors of Ballard's will were Steve Stavro, Don Giffin and Don Crump. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. He removed the Queen's picture to make room for more seats. rights reserved. We are constantly trying to improve our data and make the search for obituaries as easy as possible. Family members linked to this person will appear here. At the time of this fight, both Mr. Ballard and Mr. Clancy were in their 70's. In the West, CFL teams had come under significant pressure resulting from the introduction of WHA franchises in the four largest Western markets, therefore Western Football Conference teams were generally supportive of Ballard's efforts to become a CFL owner. He is 1 of 7 names to be on both the Stanley Cup and Grey Cup. He was accused by the Crown attorney of using funds from Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to pay for renovations to his home on Montgomery Rd., in Etobicoke. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Harold Ballard I found on Findagrave.com. Dave "Tiger" Williams who played with the Leafs from 1973 to 1980 had a close relationship with Ballard. Ballard. Hurt, 91, of Salem, passed away on Friday, November 25, 2016. Veteran. Sittler will stay put at least this season," Ken McKee. Hockey Hall of Fame Team Owner. The biggest loss was goaltender Bernie Parent, a superstar in the making, who was offered a WHA contract with financial terms far beyond what Ballard was prepared to match. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. For example, when the roof leaked, he did little more than order plastic sheets to catch the rainwater. BROWN, NELLIE G., 95, of Eugene, Ore., died Thursday (Dec. 29, 1994) at HCA Oak Hill Hospital. Well, you added Yolanda to the mix and it actually did get more colourful, recalled Bob Stellick, who worked for the Leafs on the business side in the late 80s and compared the relationship to Archie and Edith Bunker from the old sitcom All In The Family.. Ballard was elected to the Yacht Club's executive committee in January 1930. As owner of the Tiger Cats, Ballard claimed to be losing a million dollars a year. He often fought with league authorities, his employees, the news media, the fans and his children, often chuckling as he moved from battle to battle. For six years before World War I, Ballard and his family lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Burke Mortuary - Newton-Conover Your Scrapbook is currently empty. The foothold was Maple Leaf Gardens, which was Toronto's lone venue for large winter events. 1910 United States Federal Census. Verify and try again. Most of Harold Ballard's fortune will eventually go to charity and his female companion will receive $50,000 a year until she dies or marries, executors of his estate said Wednesday. Harold Quinten Ingram, 78, of Hickory, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on Thursday . Harold Ballard, hockey executive (born 30 July 1903 in Toronto, ON; died 11 April 1990 in To-ronto, ON). Ballard remained as de facto general manager even when Imlach recovered. Canada, Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current. Try again later. Ballard's desire to control players and their salaries also put him at odds with Alan Eagleson, executive director of the NHL Players' Association and a player agent whose clients included Keon's successor as captain, Darryl Sittler. Ballard was made president and general manager. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Along with his wife Noreen (nee Meahan . As a member of the National Yacht Club, Ballard became an avid racer of Sea Fleas, small outboard hydroplanes. However, by the time the Toros played their first game at the Gardens, Ballard had been released from prison. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. She was 87. The Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) has announced that deep-sea explorer and retired U.S. Navy commander Dr. Robert Ballard, best known for his discovery of the R.M.S. Harold served two years in the. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. "If you can call a Chevrolet a Chev, why can't you call a Japanese a Jap?" to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Ballard was reappointed executive vice president. Although she and Harold never married, Yolanda had her name legally changed. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Harold Edwin Ballard (born Edwin Harold Ballard, July 30, 1903 - April 11, 1990) was a Canadian businessman and sportsman. In one incident, Ballard was arrested in Paris following a fracas at a hotel. As a young man-about-town in Toronto's version of the Roaring Twenties, Mr. Ballard participated in speed-skating competitions, raced motorboats and drove a Pierce-Arrow. . Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harold Ballard (10477)? After Ballard took control during the 197172 season, one of the first challenges he faced was the creation of the World Hockey Association (WHA) as a competitor to the NHL. Try again. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. He tried to micromanage the team, interfering with coaches and players. In Ballard's last 13 seasons, they only finished above fourth once and won only two playoff series. Many fans consider the Ballard era to be the darkest period in team history. Angered that the WHA was literally in his backyard, the elder Ballard made the Toros' lease terms as onerous as possible. He finished his sentence at a halfway house in Toronto, and was paroled in October 1973 after serving a third of his sentence. While touring Europe, the Nationals were involved in several fights, both on the ice and off. In July 1979, Ballard brought his longtime friend, Imlach, back to the organization as general manager. William Tyndall Sr. 1964 - 2023 William Paul Tyndall Sr., of Enid, died Monday afternoon, February 27, 2023, after an extended series of illnesses related to diabetes. But unbeknownst to the crooner, the elder McDermott had slipped and fallen right before the show and was taken to the hospital for stitches. Bassett, who had by this time become chairman of the board, received the support of the board of directors in an 87 vote to fire Smythe and Ballard. [3], Ballard's greatest influence in this period was not on the ice, but on the financial performance of Maple Leaf Gardens. At the end of the 197172 season, the Leafs only had three players signed to contracts for the next season: Rick Kehoe and veterans Jacques Plante and Bobby Baun. Early in their relationship, the pair travelled to the Cayman Islands and met dignitaries including Queen Elizabeth II and former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, as well as performers such as opera star Luciano Pavarotti. Harold met the love of his life, Anne Louise Dufek during his junior year. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. To do that, Ballard bought 24% of son Harold Jr.'s shares for $25 million. Make a life-giving gesture TAMPICO AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY - MUSEUM - FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY/RESEARCH CENTER 119 Main St., P. O. Their best season in more than a decade has been the current one, during which Mr. Ballard was gravely ill and others assumed control. Toronto became a laughingstock of the. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. "Lanny McDonald trade has Sittler in tears," Jim Kernaghan. Harold Ballard and Yolanda Ballard took out a marriage license last January in the Cayman Islands. The Leafs defeated the Red Wings in the final game of the season, and backed into the playoffs when the Stars lost their final game hours later. In his will, Ballard had left Yolanda $50,000 a year for the rest of her life, but she considered this inadequate and sued for $192,600 and later $381,000 a year. The two men appeared together at a news conference described as "all smiles and buddy-buddy"[15] to announce that Sittler would not only be at training camp, but had reassumed his captaincy. Often he was the guest of Mr. Ballard at the arena's private Hot Stove Lounge, where Mr. Ballard awed all with his epic bouts of dining. Many fans consider the Ballard era to be the darkest period in team history, even after winning four Stanley Cups in the 1960s. Ballard was pulled from the water unconscious, but one of his friends died. Conn Smythe later claimed that he believed he was only selling his shares to his son, but it is very unlikely that Stafford could have acquired the millions he needed to buy the Leafs on his own. ", (Indeed, Mr. Ballard was an enthusiastic chaser of properties to bring into Toronto. Explore All. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. In 1965, he sold tickets for two Beatles concerts on the same day, although the contract called for only one. In 1985-86, they finished with a .356 winning percentage, the fourth-worst record in the league and fourth worst in franchise history. "Is that an act?" This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. The team had a poor year with Ballard coaching, but Ballard arranged a European tour for the Nationals which included competing in the 1933 Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague. He had already consolidated his position by buying out his daughter, Mary-Elizabeth, for $15.5 million. To order copies of Two days later, Ballard asked Neilson to return, but with a paper bag over his head so as to conceal his identity. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. At the time, Mr. Finkelstein lived in apartment building directly behind Maple Leaf Gardens, as did musicians Murray McLauchlan and Gordon Lightfoot. [28] However, in the end, it was a partnership of the Labatt Brewing Company, Howard Webster, and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) that brought baseball to Toronto, as they were awarded an expansion team in the American League for $7 million that became the Toronto Blue Jays, who began play in 1977. In 1940, he became a member of the Maple Leafs Hockey Team organization, was a senior executive in 1957, became part-owner of the team in 1961 and was majority owner from February 1972 until his death at age 86. Harold Delk Jr. (2/22/23) BERTRAND, Mo. By the time Yolanda walked into Harolds life in 1983, she had done jail time for perjury and been married once to a lawyer, then divorced. At first, the players welcomed Ballard behind the bench, but the mood soon changed, particularly after Ballard benched the team captain. You thought it couldnt get any more colourful under Harold Ballard. "[25] A few days later, the Tiger Cats won the 1986 Grey Cup by beating the Edmonton Eskimos 3915 and Ballard said it was worth every penny. Republication or distribution of this content is What if John Bassett had been able to buy Harold Ballards shares in the Maple Leafs? "Leafs' owner Ballard spends $1.3 million to buy the Tiger-Cats," Rick Matsumoto. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Please try again later. Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.21, Penguin Books. In 1957, Ballard moved up to the Maple Leafs as a member of a committee chaired by Stafford Smythe which oversaw hockey operations after Conn Smythe stepped down as general manager and Hap Day was pushed out of the Leafs organization. At a game in the Philadelphia Spectrum in the late 1970's, Mr. Ballard defended his friend, a hockey legend named King Clancy, when Mr. Clancy, a former player and N.H.L.