Gordie Howe/Ted Lindsay Rift

[WhiteLightning91 105]

Over on the NHL Network today they were playing the 1997 SCF. At one point during the show Dan Pollard, the host, was talking about the 1955 Red Wings' team and mentioned that Howe and Lindsay no longer speak to each other. I was unaware of this and couldn't find any info about what happened. Can someone fill me in??

EDIT: Nevermind, this article explains what happened. For anyone interested...

On February 12th, 1957 the NHLPA's formation was announced, and almost immediately NHL owners looked to squash the movement. Each team began the successful disintegration of the player's movement, and they went to whatever lengths were deemed necessary. Jack Adams, the Red Wings legendary boss, was particularly irate and intimidate everyone of his players, and in most he was very successful. He unleashed a system campaign of lies and personal attacks on Lindsay, scaring most of the Red Wings players into backing away from certification votes.

The most notable name to back down was Gordie Howe, the best player in the league. Without Howe's commitment, the NHLPA was doomed to fail, and Lindsay knew it. This whole episode caused a major rift between the two that has never been fully healed.

For his union organizing activities, Detroit had little choice but to trade Lindsay to Chicago in 1957.

I always knew that Lindsay was in hot water with the elague over the whole NHLPA idea but didn't realize that was why him and Howe do not speak anymore. Gotta give him a HUGE amount of credit for the hard work and dedication he put into building the Union though. Helluva a guy. Anyone know if this rift has continued to this day?

Edited July 25, 2009 by WhiteLightning91

[wingfan1991 221]

was just watching that too on the NHL Network.. ah the memories

as for the Howe/Lindsay feud.. they seem pretty cool nowadays when they are either introduced or together in some sort of manner. talking and shaking hands etc..

[martyrme19 73]

was just watching that too on the NHL Network.. ah the memories

as for the Howe/Lindsay feud.. they seem pretty cool nowadays when they are either introduced or together in some sort of manner. talking and shaking hands etc..

false. my best friend's grandpa is Ted Lindsay. He confirms they hate each other to this day.

As well, i have a production line photo with Lindsay and Abel both having signed it. Howe refused to sign the picture because they had signed it already.

(side note, Abel signed my photograph 3 days before he died. Ted Lindsay took my picture with him over to his house when he was signing it. Lindsay went to visit Abel because Abel was feeling "under the weather")

Which makes it even more of a shame Howe wont sign it.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

If I were making lists of "Most Interesting People in Hockey", Mr. Lindsay would be in my "Top Five" in the DRW organization and in my "Top Ten" in NHL history. And it would be a great day if I heard that he was writing his autobiography.

[Zion 93]

Interesting stuff. Thanks for the input, gang. I was just watching this, and thinking the same thing.

[sherwood40 16]

i don't belive that, because I've talked to Howe about Lindsay and he would tell stories of them, i have a production line photo signed by Lindsay and Able and took it to him and he signed it no problem.

[martyrme19 73]

i don't belive that, because I've talked to Howe about Lindsay and he would tell stories of them, i have a production line photo signed by Lindsay and Able and took it to him and he signed it no problem.

where do you live? I'll give you my photograph and you can ask Howe to sign it for me.

[egroen 384]

Jack Adams orchestrated the feud between Lindsay and pretty much the entire Red Wings team (and fan base) by planting false quotes and a fake contract with an inflated salary from Lindsay in the local press - basically making him look like a spoiled, ungrateful prima-donna.

Howe, and the rest of the Wings believed Adams, and Lindsay was unceremoniously shipped off to last place Chicago.

At one point Howe wanted to return to the NHL with his kids and Lindsay, as the GM, wouldn't sign them.

Howe later admitted he was "wrong" about the NHLPA, but the feud was re-ignited with the release of the movie "Net Worth" in 1995 where Lindsay is portrayed as a pioneer and Howe, as sort of a dumb galoot, actively working against the union amongst other players on behalf of Jack Admas -- all true, but Gordie did not appreciate it much.

They are civil in public together, but still are not too fond of each other.

Edited July 27, 2009 by egroen

[sherwood40 16]

where do you live? I'll give you my photograph and you can ask Howe to sign it for me.

He signs autographs 2 times a year at goalie's den. He was great about it, thats where we were talking about Lindsay, cause i seen him the night before.

[martyrme19 73]

He signs autographs 2 times a year at goalie's den. He was great about it, thats where we were talking about Lindsay, cause i seen him the night before.

do you know when the next event is?

[VladyIBELIEVE16 257]

Marty - you can be added to the email list to be notified of signing events

http://www.thegoaliesden.com/currentevents.htm

[ilmickeyli 40]

For a second I thought Grant was Billy Mays, minus a tooth

Edited July 28, 2009 by ilmickeyli

[PROBIE4PREZ 58]

^ holy s*** its a african Billy Mayes!!

[Stiffy 0]

I read somewhere it was from Ted making a joke or just a comment about Howe's wife. Ted thought she was being a little bossy about something and made a comment. Gordie was not happy about it.

Anyone else hear/read this? It was in a book of Red wing history - darn, I gave it to a friend.

[sherwood40 16]

DC Sports just sent an e-mail out saying Ted Lindsay and Gordie Howe will be signing together. I forgot the date but as far as I know right now, for $399 you get a 16x20 picture of them together in there gear and they sign it in front of you. Check it out. www.DetroitCitySports.com

[zata20 4]

If this is true about the feud, it is damn near ridiculous. This happened over 50 years ago. Get over it.

[berman1125 4]

<!--quoteo(post=1757862:date=July 25, 2009 - 04:10PM:name=wingfan1991)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wingfan1991 @ July 25, 2009 - 04:10PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1757862"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->was just watching that too on the NHL Network.. ah the memories <img src="http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

as for the Howe/Lindsay feud.. they seem pretty cool nowadays when they are either introduced or together in some sort of manner. talking and shaking hands etc..<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

false. my best friend's grandpa is Ted Lindsay. He confirms they hate each other to this day.

As well, i have a production line photo with Lindsay and Abel both having signed it. Howe refused to sign the picture because they had signed it already.

(side note, Abel signed my photograph 3 days before he died. Ted Lindsay took my picture with him over to his house when he was signing it. Lindsay went to visit Abel because Abel was feeling "under the weather")

Which makes it even more of a shame Howe wont sign it.

I realize this is a long shot but I would like to know who your 'best friend' is...Ted Lindsay is my Grandfather...sooooo that means your best friend is my cousin. WHO?!!!!!!!!!!!!

[joshy207 156]

For years, Howe never really did much to negotiate his contract. He was a pretty trusting guy, a little naive really. Adams would tell Howe he was the highest paid player in the league and, with a handshake and a wink, told Howe to keep it quiet so the other guys wouldn't get jealous. Howe would eventually find out there were three or four guys on his team alone making more money than him... my guess is he found out after the union push by Lindsay, but until that point, he was pretty loyal to management.

[doomsday 2]

I realize this is a long shot but I would like to know who your 'best friend' is...Ted Lindsay is my Grandfather...sooooo that means your best friend is my cousin. WHO?!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's awesome, I've met Ted a few times in the past few years and he has been awesome. I asked him if I could get a picture with him and he handed me one of his gloves from the 50's and wrapped his arm around me. I also got to meet him with my 7 year old nephew a few months ago and he couldn't have been more pleasant. Needless to say my nephew was a bit intimidated, but Ted laughed and joked with us for a few minutes. I asked him to sign my photo and add "Terrible" in front of his signature, and he told me that he isn't terrible at all but did it anyway. Fans in Detroit are lucky to have a guy as great as him as one of their legends. Mr. Lindsay still looks amazing for a guy in his mid 80's, but Gordie on the other hand seems like he's going downhill quick. I hope they can mend things up sooner rather than later.

Also, on a side note, I know Ted has family in Grand Rapids and I was wondering if you guys ever get out to any Griffins games. It'd be fun to see him do a puck drop on opening night or something like that.

[berman1125 4]

That's awesome, I've met Ted a few times in the past few years and he has been awesome. I asked him if I could get a picture with him and he handed me one of his gloves from the 50's and wrapped his arm around me. I also got to meet him with my 7 year old nephew a few months ago and he couldn't have been more pleasant. Needless to say my nephew was a bit intimidated, but Ted laughed and joked with us for a few minutes. I asked him to sign my photo and add "Terrible" in front of his signature, and he told me that he isn't terrible at all but did it anyway. Fans in Detroit are lucky to have a guy as great as him as one of their legends. Mr. Lindsay still looks amazing for a guy in his mid 80's, but Gordie on the other hand seems like he's going downhill quick. I hope they can mend things up sooner rather than later.

Also, on a side note, I know Ted has family in Grand Rapids and I was wondering if you guys ever get out to any Griffins games. It'd be fun to see him do a puck drop on opening night or something like that.

Yea we do have family out in GR...I'm not too sure if they really make it out to a lot of games. My grandparents rarely go out that way, the fam usually goes to them. He is turning 85 this July and we are all planning on getting together for a big party! Im glad that you think so highly of him, he is very nice and I'm sure he was very glad to meet you. I am from CT so we go to see him twice a year and go to wings games when we go. When I'm with him he is just Grandpa...but those few times that we go downtown he is treated like a celeb...I sit there while he signs #7 books and the stories I hear brings the biggest smiles to my face. And the stories he tells me are crazy. It makes me really proud to say he is my Grandfather. I am also happy to say that him and Gordie have patched things up as much as they can. Especially since Gordie's wife died...he knew how important she was to the family...and Gordie is, like you said..going downhill quickly. They used to be best friends! Gordie would tuck my Mom into bed sometimes when he was staying over their house...crazy how things got out of hand, but im glad that they have finally talked it out.

[VM1138 1,921]

Nice to have the "inside info!" I, too, had read about Lindsay insulting Howe's wife, but I thought I had read somewhere else it was either overstated or made up.

At any rate, I had heard they had patched things up, even if they're not friends anymore, a few years back, good to hear some confirmation.

And I second an earlier comment here: Tell Mr. Lindsay to get cracking on an autobiography! Not only is he significant to hockey, but he's significant to overall labor movements and such a book would be interesting and important from a historical point of view. As someone with a B.S. in History and is in the MA program, I'd be more than happy to lend my assistance.

Edited June 6, 2011 by VM1138

[egroen 384]

I went early to a Ted Lindsay autograph signing - it was free, even the photos - and had a chance to chat with him for a full 15 minutes before it got started.

You can tell he loves hockey and at his age he is very much 'with it'. It was a real treat, and I just wish I could sit for hours and hear him talk.

A few things I was interested in:

Talked for a while about Doug Harvey and Red Kelly - how these two controlled the game and similarities to Lidstrom.

I congratulated him on the Pearson being renamed after him and he was very proud and honored, especially because it was the players who voted on it.

Turns out it was Dickie Moore he fought with at an Old-Timers game that got him barred from them for a while. He had a chuckle about that but also made sure I knew how good of a player Moore was. You can tell these guys had a lot of respect for one another.

Actually agreed with me the ice should be opened up more nowadays, ideally by expanding the ice surface to allow skilled players more room to work.

Players did not even know what a concussion was back then.

Jack Adams broke up that Dynasty way too early (no love lost between those two).

Agreed Red Kelly's number should be retired.

[BigWillieStyle 662]

I realize this is a long shot but I would like to know who your 'best friend' is...Ted Lindsay is my Grandfather...sooooo that means your best friend is my cousin. WHO?!!!!!!!!!!!!

<crickets>