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Magnificent symbol of hockey excellence was presented to Frank Mahovlich after the Toronto Maple Leafs made it three straight Stanley Cup titles in the spring of 1964, duplicating the feat of the Leafs' squads of the late 1940's. The two-time defending champion Leafs were struggling offensively when in February, general manager Punch Imlach orchestrated one of the biggest trades of the 1960's by acquiring Andy Bathgate and Don McKenney from the Rangers for Duff, Nevin, Seiling, Brown and Collins. The two veterans helped down the stretch with Toronto losing just one of its last nine regular season games. The playoffs were said to be one of the most exciting post-seasons of the six-team era. The Leafs took seven games to oust regular season champion Montreal as Mahovlich played inspired hockey. The Big M scored the winner in Toronto's 2-1 victory in game 2 and struck for five points to lead the Leafs to a 5-3 win in game 4. Toronto's 7-game triumph over the Red Wings in the finals is best remembered for Bobby Baun's overtime winner in game 6 to tie the series. After Bathgate scored what proved to be the Cup-winner and Toronto clinched it with a 4-0 win, it was revealed that Baun had played the end of game 6, as well as game 7, with a fractured ankle. Mahovlich led all Leaf scorers in the playoffs with 15 points and like his teammates received a 14-inch in diameter silver-plated tray as a memento of the championship season. Engraved in the center is "National Hockey League Stanley Cup Winners 1963-64 Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club – Frank Mahovlich. Preserved in excellent-plus condition, the impressive keepsake will be accompanied by Frank Mahovlich's signed letter of authenticity.
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