Bob Baun 1961-62 Parkhurst #11

There’s some story about a broken leg. Besides that, Bobby Baun was one of the most reliable defensemen in Toronto Maple Leafs history. He was a two time Memorial Cup champion with the Toronto Marlboros and a four time Stanley Cup champion with the Maple Leafs. He also had a forgettable side as a member of the inaugural Oakland Seals and head coach of the hapless and underachieving Toronto Toros of the World Hockey Associations.

Bob Baun – 1961-62 Parkhurst #11

The number 11 card of Bob Baun in the 1961-62 Parkhurst set is valued as a common card. The card celebrates the 1960-61 NHL season when Baun played all 70 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the regular season, scoring one goal and assisting on 14 while recording 15 points. The Bob Baun rookie card is much more valuable. The Baun RC appears as number 45 in the 1957-58 Parkhurst set and is valued at five times that of a common card.

Bob Baun – Playing Career

Baun played junior in the OHA from 1952-53 to 1955-56 with the Toronto Marlboros. In his final two years, the team won the Robertson Cup as OHA champions. Also, in both those years the Marlboros were crowned Memorial Cup champions with victories over the Regina Pats in both seasons.

Bob played in the NHL from 1956-57 to 1972-73 with the Maple Leafs, Oakland Seals and Detroit Red Wings. His career ended where it started with a second stint with the Maple Leafs. Over his NHL career, Baun played 964 regular season games, scoring 37 goals and assisting on 187 for 224 points. In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Bob played an additional 96 games, adding 15 points.

His only minor league action came in the 1956-57 season with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League. Playing just 46 of the Amerks 64 regular season games, Baun placed ninth in the AHL with 117 PIM.

Baun was part of four Stanley Cup champions with the Maple Leafs. He won with Toronto in three consecutive seasons from 1961-62 to 1963-64. He was also part of the 1966-67 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Bob also went to the finals twice unsuccessfully. In 1958-59 and 1959-60, the Maple Leafs lost to the dynastic Montreal Canadiens.

He was never among the leaders in scoring categories but did find himself in the top ten for penalty minutes in the NHL. In 1963-64, he placed tenth with 113 PIM. The following year, he placed fourth with 160 PIM, behind Carl Brewer, Ted Lindsay and Pierre Pilote.

Bob was picked up by the Oakland Seals in the third round of the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft, 18^th overall. He stayed with the Seals just one season before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings on May 27, 1968. He was sent to the Red Wings with Ron Harris in exchange for Gary Jarrett, Doug Roberts, Howie Young and Chris Worthy.

Bob Baun – Head Coach 

Baun’s coaching career was limited to the 1975-76 season. He took on the role of head coach with the Toronto Toros of the World Hockey Association. With stars like Frank Mahovlich and Paul Henderson, it was surprising that the Toros were last overall among teams that completed the full season. They even finished with less points than the Minnesota Fighting Saints, a team that folded after 59 games.

In 1976-77, the Toros moved to Alabama and became the Birmingham Bulls. Baun was not with the team. Instead, Gilles Leger started the year behind the bench and was replaced by Pat Kelly early on.