This is the only recognized rookie card of one of the hockey's most likable, yet competitive players. At only 150 or so pounds, King Clancy was not the biggest man on the ice but he was certainly one of the toughest. Clancy, a defenseman, began his career with the Ottawa Senators and helped lead them to two Stanley Cups in 1923 and
1927. In 1930, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired the energetic defender in hopes that Clancy could help the team reach championship form and that's exactly what he did. In 1932, Clancy helped bring the first Stanley Cup to Toronto and he did it during the first year at Maple Leaf Gardens. Clancy retired from the game during the 1936-37 season after scoring 136 goals in his career. He then tried his hand at coaching, refereeing and management during the next few decades. In fact, Clancy worked in the Toronto front office during the 1960s when the Maple Leafs won four Stanley Cups. This four-time All-Star was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958 and, each year, a current player is awarded the King Clancy Trophy for his charitable efforts in the community. This issue, which contains 40 blank-backed cards, measures approximately 2" by 3 ¼" and is very difficult to locate in high-grade. The paper stock is quite thin on this sepiatoned issue, making the cards very susceptible to paper wrinkles and creasing.
Francis M. “King” Clancy (February 25, 1902 - November 10, 1986) became the first person to play all six positions during one game in 1923. Nicknamed after his father, known as King Clancy of the Ottawa Riders, Frank played defense for 16 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Ottawa Senators (1921-1930) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (1930-1937). Clancy’s feisty approach and passion for the game endeared him to his teammates and fans alike, as he, though relatively small at 155 pounds, took on anyone who entered his defensive zone, no matter their size or strength. He rarely won a fight, but refused to back down were the situation to arise. King was a key figure as the Ottawa Senators marched to the 1923 and 1927 Stanley Cup Championships over the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins, respectively. He scored ten or more goals three times as a Senator and repeated that feat as a Maple Leaf. In what came to be known as the “best deal in hockey”, Conn Smythe and the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Clancy for two players and an unprecedented $35,000 – money Smythe had won betting the ponies. The addition of Clancy gave the Leafs the final piece of the puzzle that would win them the 1932 Stanley Cup. Playing alongside no less than seven future Hockey Hall of Famers including Ace Bailey, Charlie Conacher and Hap Day, the Maple Leafs defeated the Chicago Black Hawks, Montreal Maroons and completed a three games sweep of the New York Rangers to capture the league title. King Clancy finished his playing career with 136 goals and 147 assists in 592 career games and was named to two NHL All-Star First Teams. Following his playing days, he became a league referee for eleven years before being lured into coaching duties with the Montreal Maroons (1937-38) and the Maple Leafs (1953-1956). He compiled a coaching record of 86-92-50 in 228 games before joining the Leafs front office. King Clancy was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958. In 1988, the King Clancy Memorial Award, honoring the NHL player who demonstrates leadership qualities on and off the ice and who makes exceptional humanitarian contributions to his community was established.
