Fred Glover was also a big American Hockey League (AHL) star before coaching in the NHL. Like so so many really good hockey players, back in the days of only the “Original-Six” teams, they got “stuck” in the minors and never got a big-league" chance…. Especially if they pissed off upper-management; like trying to form a players’-union….
The Oakland Seals (aka The California Golden Seals) may well have been one of the worst NHL clubs in the history of the league – although I don’t discount some of the later New York Americans and Montreal Maroons teams from that honour but that was a different time. They were hexed from the beginning. The NHL (or more accurately CBS) wanted teams in Los Angeles and San Francisco but the man who won the franchise decided to put the team in Oakland. Unfortunately people from San Francisco don’t go to Oakland. And then Charlie Finley – who knew nothing about hockey – bought the team.
To show how inept the Seals and Charlie Finley were, they were more concerned about gimmicks including green and gold skates (later changed to white skates) rather than things like the draft. They traded their first round pick in the 1971 draft to Montreal for journeyman forward Ernie Hicke, Montreal’s first round pick in 1970 (they picked Chris Oddleifson who never actually played for the Seals though he did later make a career for himself in Vancouver). The Seals were the worst team in hockey the next season (worse even than two expansion teams) meaning that Montreal got the first pick overall. They picked a guy named Guy Lafleur who scored 560 goals in a 17 year NHL career.
Peggy Fleming was a sports icon in 1969. The entire US Figure Skating team was killed in a plane crash in 1961 and it wasn’t until 1968 and Peggy Fleming that figure skating came back. And Shultz was a huge supporter of women’s athletics.
Templo S.U.D. over 7 years ago
Yeah, Linus, Joe’s doing “or something.”
NormyBates over 7 years ago
Lovely scene but…horrible suit Linus!
Anters55 over 7 years ago
@Horst Hrubbisch – thanks! Was wondering when this strip was first published.
St. Pillsbury over 7 years ago
And in the strip, Joe Shlabotnik played for the “Waffletown MapleSyrups”
Strider Premium Member over 7 years ago
Poor Charlie Brown never gets to meet his hero then again I don’t think anyone would get the chance to meet Joe Shlabotnik. ;)
Wren Fahel over 7 years ago
sigh Bobby Orr… <3 My older sister had (& still has) the biggest crush on him.
Dennis Johns over 7 years ago
Fred Glover was also a big American Hockey League (AHL) star before coaching in the NHL. Like so so many really good hockey players, back in the days of only the “Original-Six” teams, they got “stuck” in the minors and never got a big-league" chance…. Especially if they pissed off upper-management; like trying to form a players’-union….
Number Three over 7 years ago
What is the history with Snoopy and Peggy Fleming?
xxx
Darryl Heine over 7 years ago
ZOINKS! Snoop, it’s the ghost of Joe Garagiola who passed away in 2016!
bmckee over 7 years ago
The Oakland Seals (aka The California Golden Seals) may well have been one of the worst NHL clubs in the history of the league – although I don’t discount some of the later New York Americans and Montreal Maroons teams from that honour but that was a different time. They were hexed from the beginning. The NHL (or more accurately CBS) wanted teams in Los Angeles and San Francisco but the man who won the franchise decided to put the team in Oakland. Unfortunately people from San Francisco don’t go to Oakland. And then Charlie Finley – who knew nothing about hockey – bought the team.
bmckee over 7 years ago
To show how inept the Seals and Charlie Finley were, they were more concerned about gimmicks including green and gold skates (later changed to white skates) rather than things like the draft. They traded their first round pick in the 1971 draft to Montreal for journeyman forward Ernie Hicke, Montreal’s first round pick in 1970 (they picked Chris Oddleifson who never actually played for the Seals though he did later make a career for himself in Vancouver). The Seals were the worst team in hockey the next season (worse even than two expansion teams) meaning that Montreal got the first pick overall. They picked a guy named Guy Lafleur who scored 560 goals in a 17 year NHL career.
JohnFarson19 over 7 years ago
Peggy Fleming was a sports icon in 1969. The entire US Figure Skating team was killed in a plane crash in 1961 and it wasn’t until 1968 and Peggy Fleming that figure skating came back. And Shultz was a huge supporter of women’s athletics.
edonline over 7 years ago
IMO, the next few strips are some of the most disheartening in the history of Peanuts.