| Baltimore Clippers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Baltimore,Maryland |
| League | AHL (1962–1976) SHL (1976–77) |
| Operated | 1962–1977 |
| Home arena | Baltimore Civic Center |
| Colors | Black, white, orange |
| Affiliates | NHL (1962–1976) WHA (1975–1977) |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 1 (1970–71) |
| Division titles | 3 (1970–71,1971–72, 1973–74) |
TheBaltimore Clippers were a minor league professional ice hockey team inBaltimore,Maryland, playing in theBaltimore Civic Center. The Clippers were members of theAmerican Hockey League from 1962 to 1976, and then played one season in theSouthern Hockey League. The team was managed byTerry Reardon for its first fourteen seasons, and won three division titles, but did not capture aCalder Cup title. Baltimore began as a farm team for theNew York Rangers, and helped developHall of Fame players includingEddie Giacomin,Doug Harvey,Jacques Plante andJean Ratelle. The Clippers also featured eight alumni who are now members of theAHL Hall of Fame. The team name "Clippers" was used by two previous professional hockey teams in Baltimore, and paid homage to local history in theBaltimore Clipper and thePort of Baltimore.
TheAmerican Hockey League approved an expansion franchise for Baltimore on June 12, 1962.[1][2] The approval came with the promise that theBaltimore Civic Center which would be the largest rink in the AHL at that time, would be completed no later than November 1, 1962.[2] The team'sfight song, "Win, you Baltimore Clippers", was composed by lyricist Winifred Davis, and music teacher Jack D. Martz Sr., to coincide with the team's founding in 1962.[3]
The Clippers were aNew York Rangers affiliate, for five seasons starting in 1962.[4] The new Clippers had no connection to theBaltimore Clippers (1945–1949), or theBaltimore Clippers (1954–1956), other than the name, and the same public relations man, Robert Elmer.[5] Since their arena was still under construction, training camp was held at theWheat City Arena, where general managerTerry Reardon played as a junior.[6]Red Sullivan was named the player-coach, and the camp included many players with connections toBrandon, Manitoba.[7]
Baltimore won the first game of the1962–63 AHL season on October 12, defeating theSpringfield Indians, 6–4.[8] On December 29, 1962, Sullivan was promoted to be head coach theNew York Rangers, and was replaced by player-coachAldo Guidolin.[9]Dave Creighton led the team in scoring with 24 goals, and 72 points.[10] The Clippers finished the season in third place in the east division.[11] In the playoffs, they lost two games to one, to theHershey Bears.[12]
In the1963–64 AHL season,Ken Schinkel led the team in scoring, with 23 goals, and 56 points.[13] Player-coach, Aldo Guidolin was the third most penalized player in the league, with 165 minutes.[14] Baltimore finished fourth place in the east division, out of the playoffs.[15]
Jack Crawford was appointed head coach for the1964–65 AHL season.[16]Gord Labossiere led the team in scoring, with 38 goals, and 79 points.[17] Baltimore finished third place in the east division.[18] In the playoffs, the Clippers lost three games to two, versus the Hershey Bears.[19]
Baltimore struggled early in the1965–66 AHL season, and head coach Jack Crawford was fired on January 24, 1966.[20] Terry Reardon took over coach duties, despite rumors that Red Sullivan was returning.[20] Ken Schinkel led the team in scoring with 30 goals, and 75 points.[21] The Clippers finished fourth place in the east division, and missed the playoffs.[22]
In the1966–67 AHL season, Reardon acquiredWillie Marshall, who led the team in scoring with 33 goals, and 89 points.[23] Marshall was third in the league in points, andBob Plager led the league with 169 penalty minutes.[24] Baltimore finished the season second place in the east division.[25] In the playoffs, the Clippers defeated theQuebec Aces three games to two in the first round, then lost to theRochester Americans three games to one, in the second round.[26]
For the1967–68 AHL season, Baltimore started an affiliation with thePittsburgh Penguins for three seasons.[4]Tom McCarthy led the team in scoring with 34 goals, and 83 points.[27] Baltimore dropped into fourth place in the east division, and missed the playoffs.[28]
Aldo Guidolin returned as head coach for the1968–69 AHL season, on June 22, 1968.[29] Baltimore picked up secondary affiliations with theDetroit Red Wings andPhiladelphia Flyers for one season.[4] Willie Marshall led the team in scoring with 26 goals, and 78 points.[30]Sandy McGregor scored 44 goals, second most in the league, and Marshall tied for third most assists in the league with 52.[31] Baltimore moved up to second place in the east division.[32] In the playoffs, the Clippers lost to theProvidence Reds, three games to one.[33]
Rudy Migay was appointed head coach for the1969–70 AHL season on September 11, 1969.[34]Jim Bartlett led the team in scoring with 30 goals, and 58 points.[35] Baltimore finished third place in the west division.[36] In the playoffs, they lost four games to one, to theMontreal Voyageurs.[37] After the season, Pittsburgh ended its affiliation, and reassigned Migay to coach theAmarillo Wranglers in the next season.[38]
In the1970–71 AHL season, Terry Reardon returned to the dual role of head coach and general manager,[39] and the Clippers affiliated with theDetroit Red Wings for one season.[4]Fred Speck led the team in points with 92, andWayne Rivers had 38 goals.[40] Baltimore had the top three scorers in the league, including Speck with 92 points,Marc Dufour with 82 points, and Rivers with 75 points.[41] Speck also led the league in assists with 61, Rivers was second in goals scored, andLarry Johnston racked up the second most penalty minutes in the league with 198.[41] Speck won theLes Cunningham Award as the league's most valuable player,[42] theJohn B. Sollenberger Trophy as the league's top scorer,[43] and theDudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL Rookie of the Year.[44] The Clippers finished first in the west division,[45] to capture theJohn D. Chick Trophy.[46] Reardon won theLouis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award, as the AHL Coach of the Year.[47] In the playoffs, Baltimore fell in six games to the Providence Reds, ending the best team season to date.[48]
Veteran defensemanJim Morrison was appointed co-coach with Reardon for the1971–72 AHL season, in addition to playing.[49] Baltimore switched NHL affiliations to theCalifornia Golden Seals for the season.[4]Pete Laframboise led the Clippers in scoring with 37 goals, and 81 points, followed byJoe Szura with 38 goals, and 76 points.[50] Baltimore repeated their first place finish in the west division,[51] winning another John D. Chick Trophy.[46] In the playoffs, Baltimore defeated theCleveland Barons four games to two in the first round, and then defeated theCincinnati Swords in six games in the second round, to reach the league finals.[52] Playing in their onlyCalder Cup finals appearance, Baltimore lost in six games to theNova Scotia Voyageurs, and were outscored 8–21.[52]
Baltimore's recent success was short-lived without any NHL affiliation during the1972–73 AHL season.[4] The Clippers finished sixth place in the west division, and last overall in the league, missing the playoffs.[53]Bobby Rivard was the team's top scorer with 75 points.[54]
Baltimore negotiated an affiliation with theDetroit Red Wings for the1973–74 AHL season.[4] Marc Dufour led the team in scoring, with 104 points.[55] Dufour and teammateHowie Menard tied for third in the league with 42 goals, and Dufour finished second overall in points.[56] The Clippers returned to first place, winning the south division, and the John D. Chick Trophy.[46][57] In the playoffs, Baltimore defeated theRichmond Robins four games to one in the first round, but were swept in four games by the Hershey Bears in the second round.[58]
Kent Douglas was appointed co-coach with Reardon for the1974–75 AHL season,[49] and Baltimore affiliated with theKansas City Scouts for one season.[4] By January 1975, the Clippers were in trouble financially. They had received an $80,000 subsidy from city in lieu of lease payments, giving up exclusive ice rights to the Baltimore Civic Center.[59] The team formally folded on January 23, 1975, and cancelled the remaining 30 games on their schedule, citing poor attendance and debt.[59][60] On the same day, theMichigan Stags of theWorld Hockey Association relocated to Baltimore.[60] When the Clippers folded after 46 games, they were in last place with 38 points,[61] and Bobby Rivard led the team with 37 points.[62]
When the Baltimore Blades did not return for a second season, Reardon led the drive to resurrect the Clippers. On August 15, 1975, the AHL granted a provisional franchise to revive the Baltimore Clippers for the1975–76 AHL season, as long as a lease could be secured at the Baltimore Civic Center.[63] The Clippers were readmitted to league on August 26, 1975, when team ownership posted a $50,000 performance bond with league, and 1,700 season tickets had been sold.[64] Baltimore affiliated with theWashington Capitals in the NHL, and theNew England Whalers in the WHA for one season.[65] Fred Speck returned to the Clippers, and led the team with 75 points scored.[66]Don Grierson was fourth in goals scored in the league with 37, and Speck was third with 52 assists.[67] Despite their efforts, the Clippers placed fourth in the south division, and last overall in the league.[68]
On August 12, 1976, team owners announced that the Clippers were transferring to theSouthern Hockey League, due to the higher costs of operating in the AHL, compared to being geographically closer to teams in the SHL and saving money on travel.[69][70] The team had lost $250,000 in the previous season, and were unable to negotiate an NHL affiliation to help with costs.[69][70] Reardon was relieved of his general manager duties, and reassigned to other business management, then later released as a cost saving measure.[71]Larry Wilson was named the new coach and general manager on August 31.[72] The Clippers affiliated with theEdmonton Oilers in the WHA for the1976–77 Southern Hockey League season.[73] On January 18, 1977, Wilson was appointed interim head coach of Detroit Red Wings, and Baltimore named Don Grierson a player-coach-general manager.[74] The Southern Hockey League soon ceased operations when four of its teams folded due to financial reasons, and the final game was played on January 31, 1977.[75] At that time, Grierson led the team, and tied for the league lead in goals with 30, led the league with 45 assists, and 75 points.[76][77] Baltimore had accumulated the fourth most points during the season, when the league stopped play.[78] In January 1978, the team's remaining possessions were auctioned off to pay outstanding debt claims.[79]
The Baltimore Clippers were affiliated withNational Hockey League teams from 1962 to 1976,World Hockey Association teams from 1975 to 1977, and were independent in the 1972–73 season.[4][65][73]
| Parent | League | Years | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Rangers | NHL | 1962–67 | 5 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 1967–70 | 3 |
| Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 1968–69 1970–71 1973–74 | 3 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 1968–69 | 1 |
| California Golden Seals | NHL | 1971–72 | 1 |
| Kansas City Scouts | NHL | 1974–75 | 1 |
| Washington Capitals | NHL | 1975–76 | 1 |
| New England Whalers | WHA | 1975–76 | 1 |
| Edmonton Oilers | WHA | 1976–77 | 1 |
Fred Speck had possibly the best season for a Clippers' player in 1970–71, winning three league awards, including theLes Cunningham Award,John B. Sollenberger Trophy, and theDudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award[42][43][44] Eight players from the Clippers have been inducted into theAHL Hall of Fame, and four have been inducted in theHockey Hall of Fame.[80]
| Player | Position | Honors | Inducted | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie Giacomin | Goaltender | Hockey Hall of Fame | 1987 | [81] |
| Doug Harvey | Defense | Hockey Hall of Fame | 1973 | [82] |
| Jacques Plante | Goaltender | Hockey Hall of Fame | 1978 | [83] |
| Jean Ratelle | Center | Hockey Hall of Fame | 1985 | [84] |
| Jim Bartlett | Left wing | AHL Hall of Fame | 2018 | [85] |
| Billy Dea | Center | AHL Hall of Fame | 2017 | [86] |
| Ralph Keller | Defense | AHL Hall of Fame | 2016 | [87] |
| Willie Marshall | Center | AHL Hall of Fame | 2006 | [88] |
| Jim Morrison | Defense | AHL Hall of Fame | 2013 | [89] |
| Marcel Paille | Goaltender | AHL Hall of Fame | 2010 | [90] |
| Harry Pidhirny | Center | AHL Hall of Fame | 2011 | [91] |
| Noel Price | Defense | AHL Hall of Fame | 2008 | [92] |
Terry Reardon was the general manager of Baltimore for fourteen seasons, and coached the Clippers during nine seasons, winning theLouis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award in 1970–71, as the AHL Coach of the Year.[47][71] In total, nine men were head coaches of the Baltimore Clippers 1962 to 1971,[49][93][94] or co-coaches from 1972 to 1976.[95][96][97]
| Season(s) | Head coach(es) |
|---|---|
| 1962–63 | Red Sullivan,Aldo Guidolin |
| 1963–64 | Aldo Guidolin |
| 1964–65 | Jack Crawford |
| 1965–66 | Jack Crawford,Terry Reardon |
| 1966–68 | Terry Reardon |
| 1968–69 | Aldo Guidolin |
| 1969–70 | Rudy Migay |
| 1970–71 | Terry Reardon |
| 1971–74 | Terry Reardon &Jim Morrison |
| 1974–76 | Terry Reardon &Kent Douglas |
| 1976–77 | Larry Wilson,Don Grierson |
Baltimore initially received above average fan support, compared to teams in its league. The city failed in its attempts for a major league team in the1967 NHL expansion, or the subsequentNHL expansion era.[98][99] Attendance began to drop in the early 1970s, and then the team faced competition with both theWashington Capitals, and the WHA in the 1974–75 season.
| Season | Average attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | League | ||
| 1962–63 | 4,776 | 4,747 | [11] |
| 1963–64 | 5,281 | 4,856 | [15] |
| 1964–65 | 4,963 | 4,572 | [18] |
| 1965–66 | 3,946 | 4,433 | [22] |
| 1966–67 | 4,576 | 4,447 | [25] |
| 1967–68 | 4,895 | 4,860 | [28] |
| 1968–69 | 4,367 | 4,721 | [32] |
| 1969–70 | 6,082 | 4,617 | [36] |
| 1970–71 | 5,213 | 4,521 | [45] |
| 1971–72 | 2,910 | 4,915 | [51] |
| 1972–73 | 2,910 | 4,077 | [53] |
| 1973–74 | 3,083 | 3,364 | [57] |
| 1974–75 | 3,049 | 3,930 | [61] |
| 1975–76 | 3,304 | 3,761 | [68] |
| 1976–77 | Data incomplete | [78] | |
Season-by-season results in the regular season, and playoffs.[49][93][94]
| Season | League | Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Goals for | Goals against | Standing | 1st round | 2nd round | Finals | ||
| 1962–63 | AHL | 72 | 35 | 30 | 7 | 77 | 226 | 244 | 3rd, east | L, 1-2,Hershey | — | — |
| 1963–64 | AHL | 72 | 32 | 37 | 3 | 67 | 200 | 220 | 4th, east | Out ofplayoffs | ||
| 1964–65 | AHL | 72 | 35 | 32 | 5 | 75 | 275 | 249 | 3rd, east | L, 2-3,Hershey | — | — |
| 1965–66 | AHL | 72 | 27 | 43 | 2 | 56 | 212 | 254 | 4th, east | Out of playoffs | ||
| 1966–67 | AHL | 72 | 35 | 27 | 10 | 80 | 252 | 247 | 2nd, east | W, 3-2,Quebec | L, 1-3,Rochester | — |
| 1967–68 | AHL | 72 | 28 | 34 | 10 | 66 | 236 | 255 | 4th, east | Out of playoffs | ||
| 1968–69 | AHL | 74 | 33 | 34 | 7 | 73 | 266 | 257 | 2nd, east | L, 1-3,Providence | — | — |
| 1969–70 | AHL | 72 | 25 | 30 | 17 | 67 | 230 | 252 | 3rd, west | L, 1-4,Montreal | — | — |
| 1970–71 | AHL | 72 | 40 | 23 | 9 | 89 | 263 | 224 | 1st, west | L, 2-4,Providence | — | — |
| 1971–72 | AHL | 76 | 34 | 31 | 11 | 79 | 240 | 249 | 1st, west | W, 4-2,Cleveland | W, 4-2,Cincinnati | L, 2-4,Nova Scotia |
| 1972–73 | AHL | 76 | 17 | 48 | 11 | 45 | 210 | 315 | 6th, west | Out of playoffs | ||
| 1973–74 | AHL | 76 | 42 | 24 | 10 | 94 | 310 | 232 | 1st, south | W, 4-1,Richmond | L, 0-4,Hershey | — |
| 1974–75 | AHL | 46 | 14 | 22 | 10 | 38 | 136 | 180 | 5th, south | Did not complete season | ||
| 1975–76 | AHL | 76 | 21 | 48 | 7 | 49 | 238 | 316 | 4th, south | Out of playoffs | ||
| 1976–77 | SHL | 47 | 21 | 24 | 2 | 44 | 182 | 169 | 4th, SHL | League folded January 31st | ||