DON SIMMONS
Circa 1956-1961 GAME WORN BOSTON BRUINS AND possibly Toronto maple leafs catching glove
What you are looking at right now is a game worn Boston Bruins and possibly Toronto Maple Leafs catching glove utilized by goalie equipment pioneer, Don Simmons circa 1956-1961. With that, there exists the possibility that it may well have been used in the 1957 and/or 1958 Stanley Cup Finals. It has incredible wear and we can only imagine the tales of the NHL that it could tell. This item originated from the Simmons family. The trapper portion of the glove is a "Wilson Ripper Collins" baseball glove and the cuff is from a circa 1940s-50s era "Stall and Dean Puckmaster" catching glove that is tagged with the Jim McCarthy company tag that was based out of Somerville, Massachusetts. The open area on the back of the glove was not uncommon as many goalies in the era utilized a baseball style glove (including Terry Sawchuk), though Sawchuk getting sliced by a skate eventually led to the open areas being no more. The co-evolution of hockey goalie gear in conjunction with baseball is something truly fascinating to look at from the 1940s to 1950s.
Born on September 13, 1931 in Port Colborne, Ontario, Don Simmons' pro hockey journey started with the Springfield Indians before he was acquired by the Boston Bruins in January 1957 after Terry Sawchuk had health issues and announced his retirement (which resulted in much hostility by team management and the media). Simmons made his NHL debut on January 26, 1957 vs the New York Rangers and he stopped 30 of 35 shots in a 5-3 loss. He ended up appearing in 26 regular season games that year, going 13-9-4 and recording 4 shutouts. He also helped lead Boston into the Stanley Cup Final vs Montreal, losing to them in five games. The next year, he appeared in 39 more games with the Bruins and then once again led them into the Stanley Cup Final, this time falling in six games to the Habs. Though appearing in 58 games the next year, Simmons' role was supplanted by Harry Lumley in the playoffs. After 46 more games with the Bruins in the next two seasons, Simmons was traded to Toronto in 1961. In Toronto, he appeared in 61 combined regular season and playoff games between 1961-1964 and he was also a three time Stanley Cup Champion (1962, 1963, 1964). Thereafter, most of his play time was spent in the minor-pros with Baltimore, Tulsa, Vancouver, and Buffalo, though he did appear in a further 21 NHL games with the New York Rangers. He retired from play in 1969.
Already one of the experimental goalies of the NHL in the 1950s (he was the second after Jacques Plante to regularly wear a mask) as he did use/try several unique mask models throughout his career, Don Simmons created a goalie gear brand called Don Simmons Sports after his retirement. Though the original brand folded in 2019 a new ownership group keeps the name alive as Simmons Hockey. Don Simmons passed away on September 24, 2010.
In his NHL career, Don Simmons appeared in 249 regular season games, recording a 100-102-41 record with 20 shutouts, a 2.89GAA, and a 0.904% save average. In 24 playoff games, he had a 13-11 record with 3 shutouts, a 2.59GAA, and a 0.913% save average.
Acquired from: Donated to our museum by long-time supporter, originally came from the Simmons family as it was consigned to Classic Auctions, and then most recently in the archives of Global Vintage Sports.
Dates of Game Use: Exact dates unknown.
Photomatched: No
Born on September 13, 1931 in Port Colborne, Ontario, Don Simmons' pro hockey journey started with the Springfield Indians before he was acquired by the Boston Bruins in January 1957 after Terry Sawchuk had health issues and announced his retirement (which resulted in much hostility by team management and the media). Simmons made his NHL debut on January 26, 1957 vs the New York Rangers and he stopped 30 of 35 shots in a 5-3 loss. He ended up appearing in 26 regular season games that year, going 13-9-4 and recording 4 shutouts. He also helped lead Boston into the Stanley Cup Final vs Montreal, losing to them in five games. The next year, he appeared in 39 more games with the Bruins and then once again led them into the Stanley Cup Final, this time falling in six games to the Habs. Though appearing in 58 games the next year, Simmons' role was supplanted by Harry Lumley in the playoffs. After 46 more games with the Bruins in the next two seasons, Simmons was traded to Toronto in 1961. In Toronto, he appeared in 61 combined regular season and playoff games between 1961-1964 and he was also a three time Stanley Cup Champion (1962, 1963, 1964). Thereafter, most of his play time was spent in the minor-pros with Baltimore, Tulsa, Vancouver, and Buffalo, though he did appear in a further 21 NHL games with the New York Rangers. He retired from play in 1969.
Already one of the experimental goalies of the NHL in the 1950s (he was the second after Jacques Plante to regularly wear a mask) as he did use/try several unique mask models throughout his career, Don Simmons created a goalie gear brand called Don Simmons Sports after his retirement. Though the original brand folded in 2019 a new ownership group keeps the name alive as Simmons Hockey. Don Simmons passed away on September 24, 2010.
In his NHL career, Don Simmons appeared in 249 regular season games, recording a 100-102-41 record with 20 shutouts, a 2.89GAA, and a 0.904% save average. In 24 playoff games, he had a 13-11 record with 3 shutouts, a 2.59GAA, and a 0.913% save average.
Acquired from: Donated to our museum by long-time supporter, originally came from the Simmons family as it was consigned to Classic Auctions, and then most recently in the archives of Global Vintage Sports.
Dates of Game Use: Exact dates unknown.
Photomatched: No
Don simmons
1950s game worn boston bruins and/or springfield indians ccm skates
What you are looking at right now is a pair of game worn CCM goalie skates utilized by goalie equipment pioneer, Don Simmons during the 1950s while with the NHL's Boston Bruins and/or the AHL's Springfield Indians. With that, there exists the possibility that these may have been used in the 1957 and/or 1958 Stanley Cup Finals (though we cannot confirm that 100%). They have incredible wear and we can only imagine the tales of the NHL these could tell if they could talk. This item originated from the Simmons family.
Acquired from: Donated to our museum by long-time supporter, originally came from the Simmons family as it was consigned to Classic Auctions, and then most recently in the archives of Global Vintage Sports.
Dates of Game Use: Exact dates unknown, attributed to 1950s with Boston Bruins and/or Springfield Indians.
Photomatched: No
Acquired from: Donated to our museum by long-time supporter, originally came from the Simmons family as it was consigned to Classic Auctions, and then most recently in the archives of Global Vintage Sports.
Dates of Game Use: Exact dates unknown, attributed to 1950s with Boston Bruins and/or Springfield Indians.
Photomatched: No
