Detroit Red Wings

LEFTY WILSON

IN LOVING MEMORY

Ross 'Lefty' Wilson

1919-2002

'The Primitive Era of Hockey'

Ross 'Lefty' Wilson was born in 1919 and was a natural-born athlete who was exceptionally skilled in baseball and hockey. In Wilson's words, "I was better at baseball than hockey" contradicted his career move. Wilson began his career in professional sports by signing a contract with the Boston Red Sox, where he played in their minor league system, batting in the .333 range. Before the baseball season would end, Wilson jumped over to hockey and played in the juniors as a goaltender. However, Wilson's impact on the baseball world resulted in a field named in his honor in Plattsburgh, Canada appropriately named 'Lefty Wilson Field'.

When World War II erupted, Wilson was called to serve his country in the Canadian Navy and eventually played goaltender for the Navy team. During his days with the Navy hockey club, the team visited Windsor, Canada to play the Detroit Red Wings and it was there that he caught the watchful eye of Jack Adams and Tommy Ivan. Adams approached Wilson and said "when you get out of the service, give us a call" and that's exactly what Wilson did.

Wilson is quoted as saying, "When I went to camp, I was the oldest goaltender there. I was 25 years old and couldn't stop a balloon. So I said to Carson Cooper, the head scout, 'Carson, I'm going home.' Hey says, 'You go home, and I'll cut your legs off.' So I stayed around."

That decision to stay around would prove to be a wise decision as he served as the Spare Goalie/Trainer for the Detroit Red Wings from 1950-1982 and was a part of three Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup Championships, and played in three National Hockey League games replacing goaltenders, Terry Sawchuk, Harry Lumley, and Don Simmons. He would later become the head trainer for Team Canada in the 1976 Canada Cup.

However, it would be Lefty's crafty hands where he made a definite mark on the hockey world with his unique invention of the five-layer fiberglass goalie mask. From the late 1950s through the 1970s, the 'Lefty Wilson mask' was the mask of choice among goaltenders, and it was the only mask that the legendary Terry Sawchuk would wear. Today, the 'Lefty Wilson' mask is one of hockey's most desirable collectibles, which command several hundred to thousands of dollars.

THE EXCLUSIVE PHOTOGRAPH!

We take the ultimate honor of presenting you with this magnificent 8x10" photograph produced from the original negative of Lefty Wilson.

This photograph was brilliantly autographed in silver paint pen. The signing took place at Mr. Wilson's residence under our direct supervision and is accompanied with the registered and embossed TCM Documentation of Authenticity.