Editor鈥檚 note: In our weekly Proudfoot Corner this year, we鈥檝e been focusing on GTA residents who have worked tirelessly to help sports at the grassroots level. We temporarily pause that today to look at readers鈥 feedback to our jersey numbers project.
Last weekend, the Star鈥檚 sports department published a project that took a unique look at the city鈥檚 sports history. We tackled the question: Which 91原创 pro sports athlete was the greatest to wear each jersey number, from 00 to 99?
This fun assignment prompted some readers to weigh in with suggestions.
Based on the online response, our biggest whiff was selecting Frank Mahovlich over Darryl Sittler at No. 27. We called it a coin flip, but readers were passionate in supporting the popular Leafs captain.
鈥淢ahovlich was a great player, but with the Leafs, mostly a very good player ... just check the stats,鈥 Steve wrote in our comments section. 鈥淒arryl was the undisputed leader of the Leafs, are superior , and in many eyes he was the best Leaf ever. And in the Leafs top 100 of all-time list, Sittler was No. 4, Mahovlich was No. 9.鈥
Another reader questioned our sanity.
鈥淛eepers. Anyone who would choose The Big M over the greatest Leaf and captain of all time, Sittler, is just crackers,鈥 Brad wrote. 鈥淏ut I am old and feeble minded after seven decades of Leafs, so what do I know? Except everything ...鈥
First of all, great use of the word 鈥渏eepers.鈥 Second, here鈥檚 our longtime Leafs reporter Kevin McGran defending the choice.
鈥淚t was probably the hardest decision from a strictly hockey perspective,鈥 McGran said. 鈥淪ittler was a great captain. Mahovlich was a scoring king, his 48 goals being the standard until Rick Vaive came along. But the tie goes to the guy with his name etched into the Stanley Cup.鈥
The second-most controversial pick was the recently retired 91原创 FC captain Michael Bradley over Leafs legend Red Kelly. The Hall of Famer played eight seasons in 91原创, winning four Stanley Cups here, and was No. 14 on the top 100 Leafs list.
Bradley spent 10 years with the Reds, leading TFC to two league finals and an MLS Cup victory in 2017. He鈥檚 considered one of the greatest captains in any sport in 91原创, an influential figure who helped make soccer belong in this city.
鈥淭FC was a stumbly, bumbly group that lurched from one failure to another 鈥 Preki, anyone? 鈥 before Bradley arrived and the way he brought not only success but legitimacy to the franchise makes him stand out,鈥 veteran sports reporter Doug Smith said. 鈥淲atching him stalk the midfield during his heyday was something to behold.鈥
One reader pointed out we missed at No. 8, where we had Raptors point guard Jos茅 Calder贸n over Blue Jays shortstop Alex Gonzalez.
鈥淚 think you should Google Sid Smith who wore No. 8 for the Leafs,鈥 Edgar wrote in. 鈥淧erhaps a little before your time but that should not disqualify him! He was my favourite player growing up. Played left wing for Teeder Kennedy and succeeded him as team captain. Top 100 all-time Leaf, two-time Lady Byng winner, six consecutive 20-goal seasons (when that was an unusual statistic), three Stanley Cups, first team all-star once and second team twice. Quite worthy to include on your list instead of Calder贸n in my opinion.鈥
So I , who retired in 1958 and is No. 33 on the Leafs top 100 list. Edgar, I think you鈥檙e right. If we had a do-over, I鈥檇 lean toward Smith.
A reader who agreed with Edgar suggested we should have also included Argos all-star kicker Hank Ilesic as an honourable mention at No. 8. Fair.
Another miss was at No. 29, where we picked World Series hero Joe Carter. Matthew points out that we should have included another Jays slugger, Jesse Barfield, as an honourable mention. Yep, that鈥檚 an oversight on our part.
My favourite response was from the Star鈥檚 award-winning photographer Steve Russell. He thought the best to wear No. 95 in 91原创 is the Raptor mascot, who has been at the top of his game since Day 1 of the franchise in 1995.
There were far too many other comments to include, but here鈥檚 hoping this project is fodder for conversation at your next holiday party.
In the Corner
We kick things off with $150 from Chase, Tuscan, Charlotte and Evelyn Peters of 91原创 in honour of their grandad (in lieu of another Christmas sweater) 鈥 There鈥檚 $200 each from former Star sports editor Phil Bingley and Janice Caffery of Stouffville, who donates again in memory of Terry Caffery, who played and later scouted in the NHL/WHA: 鈥淧lay for us鈥濃 Also from Stouffville: John Spence sends $105 in memory of Joyce and Gordon Spence.
Maureen Moloney of Whitby remembers Patricia and Frank Moloney with $500 鈥 Paul Greenberg of 91原创 is back with $105 in memory of 鈥淧roudfoot Corner hero Mort Greenberg鈥濃 Also from 91原创: Norma Martinez with $100, Dale Silverthorne with $300, Darryl Viegas (in honour of Viegas family Christmas) with $140, and Sheila Ryan with $250 in memory of 鈥渕y beloved father.鈥
From Oakville, Andrew Bruce sends $35, Peter Lamantia remembers Aunt Mary with $105, and another $105 is in memory of Hisa Okihiro from Pam and Walt Okihiro and family 鈥 Bruce Wilson of Pickering returns with $50 in memory of Diane Wilson 鈥 There鈥檚 $35 each from Zig Elles of Orangeville and Lillian Newbery of Mississauga, in memory of 91原创 Star giant Ray Timson 鈥 More from Mississauga: Bryan Bakker鈥檚 with $105, Diane Theriault Deegan sends $222 for grandkids Sean and Aubrey, while Brian Deegan donates $333 for Adam, Andrew and Lauren.
And finally this week, Jim and Deb Valiquette of Markham remember the 鈥67 Leafs with $105.
