Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary of one of hockey’s most tragic tales – the death of Hall of Famer Tim Horton. One of the greatest defenders of the Original Six era, he was a multi-time All-Star and Stanley Cup champion whose legacy extends beyond the game with a chain of coffee and doughnut shops that bear his name – not to mention an annual hockey card set.
Born Miles Gilbert Horton in Cochrane, Ontario on Jan. 12, 1930, he has become almost a mythic figure among hockey fans – especially those who watched him play. An imposing physical specimen, he was a member of the Copper Cliff Jr. Redmen as a 17-year-old before heading south to play in Toronto for the St. Michael’s Majors – a junior team which produced countless stars for the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs.
After two years in the OHA, Horton was ready for the pro ranks and spent three seasons in the AHL with the Pittsburgh Hornets since it was very difficult to crack the lineup for the Leafs in this era. On March 26, 1950, he earned a one-game promotion to face the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden and followed it up a couple weeks later with his playoff debut against the Detroit Red Wings.
At this time, the Pittsburgh Hornets were one of the AHL’s top clubs and with Horton on the blue line, they took the Cleveland Barons to seven games before falling in the 1951 Calder Cup Final. A year later, success was theirs as they defeated the Providence Reds in six. In that season, Horton got a four-game look from the Leafs during the month of December.
Becoming an NHL Star
By 1952-53, the Toronto Maple Leafs were a franchise already on the downswing after winning four Stanley Cups in a five-year period. The 1951-52 campaign saw them eliminated in the first round of the playoffs and change was in the air. Goaltender Al Rollins was shipped off to Chicago for Harry Lumley and some new talent was on its way in. While future captain George Armstrong was already pegged to be a regular, Tim Horton was also on his way in.
Earning praise for his physical play and defensive acumen, Horton scored his first NHL goal against former teammate Rollins in a4-2 win over the Black Hawks (then the spelling) on Oct. 19, 1952. As his rookie season progressed, he was also depicted on a hockey card for the first time in 1952-53 Parkhurst. Appearing in all 70 games, he recorded 16 points as a freshman and his future was bright.
The ascension to greatness was quickly evident in 1953-54 as he nearly doubled his offensive output and made the NHL Second All-Star Team for the first time. In addition to being part of the Parkhurst set once again, kids were also clamoring for his mail-away photos from Beehive Corn Syrup and Quaker Oats.
Over the next four campaigns, he struggled with injuries at times and settled into a policeman-type role. No one wanted to mess with a man of his size and physical condition, so he was able to stop things before they got out of hand on the ice. His puck carrying was highly respected as well and he regularly put up around 20 or so assists a year throughout his career.
Horton’s hockey cards throughout this decade were exclusively found in Parkhurst packs. The 1954-55 issue has a photo of him cropped on an All-Star background while the following year’s card is something special.
In addition to a standard version, there is an error variation which is worth searching for since the word “DEFENSE” on the front is partially flipped.
While it isn’t exactly clear how it happened or how early it was corrected during the print run, there are some mysteries surrounding 1955-56 Parkhurst and this card commands a hefty premium when available.
Since it did not have an immediate sequel, there is speculation that this Parkie set was actually available for two seasons. The presence of two types of card stock for them does help fuel the debate, but there is also a version which was created for Quaker Oats which features a slightly altered back printed in green ink with contest details. The Quaker cards are tougher to find thank basic Parkies, too.
From Contender to Champion
Toward the end of the 1950s, Tim Horton was back to form and so were the Maple Leafs. Under controversial coach Punch Imlach, they returned to the Stanley Cup Final in 1959 and 1960 – only to be swept by the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs were in the midst of an incredible run at this time, with the final victory capping off five straight championships. However, Horton and his teammates were undaunted and competed for the regular season crown every year. While they unexpectedly fell to Detroit during first round action in 1961 – redemption was around the corner.
The early 1960s were a boom era of sorts for hockey-crazed kids in Canada. Several companies had hockey-related premiums to coax them to beg their parents in the aisles of grocery stores. Naturally, the most in-demand items were those featuring members of the Canadiens and Maple Leafs.
Horton was featured on plastic and metal coins from Shirriff/Salada along with octagonal cards, glasses, iron-on transfers, and premium photos from York Peanut Butter over several years.
Also of interest are color photos from Chex cereal boxes (circa 1963-64), bottle caps from Coke/Sprite (1964-65), and much more.
The Parkhurst cards from 1959-60 to 1962-63, however, pale a little by comparison as the same photo was used in four straight sets. While his first two cards from the company had repeated the same picture earlier with a tighter crop on the second, it seems lazy and uninspired. Thankfully, that all changed with the final original Parkie set in 1963-64 as Horton had both a portrait and full-length card – with the latter showing off Toronto’s newest white road jerseys.
On the ice, the Maple Leafs once again finished second in 1961-62 and captured the imagination of fans by rolling to their first Stanley Cup in 11 years. In the opening round, Horton and his peers needed six games to quash the surprising New York Rangers before needing an equal number of games to defeat the defending champion Black Hawks. Horton was unstoppable in the postseason as he put up three goals and 16 points.
With one title under his belt, Horton was officially regarded as one of the league’s best rearguards. In 1962-63, he placed third in voting for the Norris Trophy and was consoled with another spot on the NHL Second All-Star Team. In the playoffs, he paced all players with a plus-10 rating en route to defeating Detroit in five for a second straight title.
The 1963-64 campaign saw Horton go to another level. Finally earning a spot on the NHL First All-Star Team, seven of his nine goals that year secured victory for Toronto. As a result, he placed second to Chicago’s Pierre Pilote in Norris Trophy balloting. The postseason was a bit of a tougher run for the Maple Leafs this time as they went to seven games in both rounds before eliminating Detroit for the three-peat.
Settling in as Hockey’s Dependable Defender
For the next two seasons, the Maple Leafs struggled to contend for the Cup. The hockey card world also changed at this time with Topps becoming the sole producer while printing and distributing them throughout Canada by O-Pee-Chee. The 1964-65 Topps set was an odd oversized effort like 1965 Topps Football, but the concept didn’t take with kids. Horton had two cards that year, both of which were in the tougher second series. 
His basic card was joined by an All-Star subset card with the latter being shortprinted – only appearing once on the 99-card sheet. As a result, it commands a heavy premium.
With the NHL ready to double in size due to expansion, the 1966-67 campaign is one tinged with heavy nostalgia among hockey fans. With the Maple Leafs core showing its age, several prospects were added to the mix as they experienced highs and lows during the last year of the Original Six era. Slowly chugging into the playoffs, Toronto was poised to let experience guide the way with Horton still making heavy contributions from the back end.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Maple Leafs shocked first place Chicago. With little rest, they had to face Montreal and it was a battle for the ages. At age 37, Horton was a force and registered two goals and three assists over the first five games. In the pivotal Game 6 at Maple Leaf Gardens, both sides played well but the home team had a 2-1 lead late in the third period. With the Canadiens pulling Gump Worsley for the extra man, Toronto won a key faceoff in their own end before Armstrong put it away with the empty netter. It was the team’s last championship to date.
The Toronto Era Ends
After losing key names, the Toronto Maple Leafs were unable to make the playoffs in 1968. However, Horton refused to slow down as he pushed 40. This season saw his streak of 486 consecutive games come to an end, but he came in third for the Norris Trophy while securing a spot on the NHL First All-Star squad. Things got better in 1968-69 as he put up a career-best 40 points and Toronto returned to the playoffs, but they were swept by the Boston Bruins. Horton received some consolation with another First All-Star selection and only Bobby Orr outpaced him in the race for the Norris.
From 1967-68 to 1969-70, Tim Horton had both a basic and All-Star subset card in the annual sets printed by O-Pee-Chee. O-Pee-Chee also had him in the 1968-69 Puck Stickers and 1969-70 Four-In-One insert sets. On the American side of the border, Topps had begun to produce its own collection starting in 1968-69 and he was an annual fixture within it until 1970-71.
Toronto’s struggles continued again in 1969-70 and they finished at the bottom of the East Division. With the playoffs out of reach, they shockingly traded Horton to the New York Rangers for a player to be named later (Denis Dupere) on March 3, 1970. In the Big Apple, he provided some experience to a club that was desperate for a championship. Offensively, he made decent contributions and helped them to second place behind Boston the next year.
Despite a good campaign, the Rangers left the aging defender exposed in the Intra-League Draft and Horton was claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 8, 1971. Returning to his old AHL stomping grounds, his leadership was crucial for a team that struggled at times. This year, O-Pee-Chee waited until its second series to include him in his new sweater and also put him in its Posters release which is not only scarce today, but difficult to find in decent condition due to the quality of the paper used.
The 1971-72 Penguins weren’t the worst team in the West Division, but they finished sixth among seven. Horton missed time due to injury, which certainly did not help, and he was once again left open for other clubs in the 1972 NHL Intra-League Draft on June 5. This time, he was claimed by the Buffalo Sabres, who were entering their third season.
The first two years for the Sabres were tough, but there was some promise. The French Connection line of Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert, and Rick Martin was taking flight while there was also solid goaltending from Roger Crozier when healthy. Buffalo also had a prime defensive prospect coming in as Jim Schoenfeld was taken fifth overall and ready for the NHL.
Bringing in Horton paid off for Buffalo and he reunited with Imlach, who knew how to get the best out of the veteran. Appearing in 69 games that year, he only scored once – and that came on March 9, 1973 against the Vancouver Canucks. It was a big year for the Sabres as they made the playoffs for the first time and took the eventual champion Canadiens to six games before being eliminated. O-Pee-Chee included him in their second series, but it is worth noting that the card has his head superimposed on Tracy Pratt’s body.
Brought back for one more year, Horton’s path to the Hall of Fame was already well set. Only out of the lineup a couple of times as the season wore on, his offensive contributions were limited at best. On Jan. 13, 1974, his final assist came against the St. Louis Blues on Perreault’s goal which ensured a 1-0 victory.
An Untimely and Tragic Death
Tim Horton took to the ice for a final time on Feb. 20, 1974 as the Sabres paid a visit to the Maple Leafs. Buffalo gave up an early 3-0 lead that night and never recovered, but Horton’s play was recognized with a third star nod at the end of the 4-2 loss. The crowd roared for him one last time, and the hours that followed were his last.
After a meeting at the company office in Oakville, Ontario with business partner Ron Joyce, Horton had some drinks and painkillers for a swollen jaw before heading back home at around 4 AM. Driving a new 1974 Ford Pantera which had been a bonus for signing with the Sabres, he was travelling at an estimated 170 kilometers and hour (around 110 mph) when he crashed. The Pantera had rolled several times, throwing Horton out the window. He was found 37 meters away (about 120 feet) and pronounced dead at the hospital at the age of 44.
It was around this time that the second series of 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee cards were released. Horton was given a stand-alone card here which is slightly airbrushed because he is wearing a Penguins jersey in the shot.
The cartoon on the back of the card mentions his ownership of the donut shop chain.
Luckily, we also get a nice cameo of him in this series as he appears on Dave Keon’s card during a faceoff. It’s great seeing two former teammates on the ice together along with Norm Ullman and Paul Henderson for the Leafs. There are two versions out there for O-Pee-Chee that year with either light or dark backs. Keon’s card can also be found in 1973-74 Topps. 
Based on some research, it is believed that this photo was taken in Buffalo on Oct. 15, 1972 – a 3-2 win for the Sabres.
For many years, the specific circumstances regarding Horton’s death were kept under wraps and the reports were often conflicting or speculative. It was even unclear which doctor had actually performed the autopsy. There were sources that denied that there was even alcohol in his system, but it took over 30 years to shed some truth once the Ottawa Citizen obtained a copy of his autopsy and the official accident report in 2005.
The facts weren’t pretty. With a blood alcohol measurement over twice the legal limit, several pills – Dexamyl and Dexedrine – were also found. It was a sad end for one of hockey’s greats and over time, the facts trickled out. Horton left a widow and four daughters along with a business that was thriving. A year later, Joyce purchased Lori Horton’s stake in Tim Horton’s for $1 million and a car. Sadly, some of her late husband’s memorabilia would be stolen years later in an unsolved robbery and she often struggled in the years following his death. As the chain grew nationwide, she attempted to sue for a greater stake but was unsuccessful. She passed away in 2000 at the age of 68.
Horton would be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977 and both the Sabres and Maple Leafs would retire the numbers he wore for them.
The Enduring Hobby Legacy
In the first two decades following Tim Horton’s death, the trading card industry was primarily focused on current players rather than those from the past. There were a couple notable exceptions during this period as he was part of the Hockey Hall of Fame series produced by Andrew Pywowarczuk and Montreal-based card store Cartophilium between 1983 and 1987. Available either as standard-sized cards or as postcards, they were offered up via mail order through ads in publications such as The Hockey News.
Horton’s next appearances on cardboard came in the boom years of the early 1990s as he had several in 1991-92 Ultimate Original Six. Produced by Smokey’s Sportscards, a notorious Las Vegas-based dealer, it was a release that flooded the market with retired player cards – in English and French. In the 1991-92 Kraft set, there was a nice throwback to throwing unconventional cards in peanut butter lids and the was strangely paired with Kevin Dineen of the Hartford Whalers.
With Parkhurst-branded cards hitting the market again, Horton’s several of original cards were given the reprint treatment in 1992-93 and 1993-94. As Parkhurst went from being a sublicensee to a stand-alone card maker, Horton was included in three straight Missing Link products which created “what if” sets based on the 1956-57, 1964-65, and 1966-67 campaigns.
For the latter part of the 1990s, Horton was once again absent from mainstream card sets, but he returned in 1999-00 Upper Deck Century Legends with a basic card and a tough parallel numbered to 100. The company utilized him again on base cards the next season with the follow-up release with several parallels to track down.
The following year was the start of something good for Horton collectors, though, as more manufacturers embraced his legacy. While there were base cards from Fleer, Topps, and Upper Deck in a handful of releases, it was In The Game that really took it to another level. In 2001-02 Parkhurst, the easier pulls were reprints of 10 of his classic cards – but we also got a modern twist with his first game-used memorabilia card featuring a piece from his pants.
More memorabilia cards came in 2001-02 Be A Player Ultimate Memorabilia – but at this point, there were less than 200 total cards of this nature in the hobby. Upper Deck also turned some heads that year with the first cut signature card of Horton in 2001-02 SP Game Used.
This era was also notable for cards featuring postage stamps embedded in them as both Canada Post and Pacific Trading Cards released cards with Horton’s stamp. More cards from Topps came in a special Maple Leafs-themed boxed set and 2002-03 Topps Heritage also had a memorabilia card with a piece of a seat from Maple Leaf Gardens embedded into it. Utilizing the 1966-67 Topps design, there is also a standard reprint of his card from that year.
For the next decade and beyond, In The Game was the main source for Tim Horton cards and game-used memorabilia coming from a jersey, pants, stick, or skate. For the fourth edition of Ultimate Memorabilia, the company created its first cut signature cards – including Lumbergraphs which were cut from a vintage stick.
Up until 2013-14, Horton was featured on hundreds of different cards by the company before it was sold to Leaf, who continues to put Horton’s memorabilia into its releases.
Leading up to the 2015-16 season, Upper Deck occasionally found a reason to put Horton into a product – but everything changed that year as they partnered up with the restaurant that bears its name to put out the first of its annual hockey card sets. Now established as a fantastic gateway product to help grow the hobby, each set has included the Hall of Famer as its first card.
One of the main reasons that his inclusion in the set is important comes from the fact that as the company changed hands over the years, it started to forget its roots – especially its founder. In the 1980s and 1990s, there was often a framed print of Horton inside the restaurant, but they slowly disappeared over time. It was rumored that one point, the only one which still had one was in Cobourg, Ontario – in a store formerly owned by Horton’s daughter, Jeri Horton-Joyce, and her husband, Ron Joyce, Jr.
Once the card sets came out, though, the company has thankfully taken a look back at its namesake through its advertising efforts. The most notable was one that featured Wayne Gretzky talking about meeting Horton as a child and getting an autograph on a paper bag.
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A similar item was featured as a lot through Classic Auctions in recent years. Upper Deck also sporadically includes him in its other releases.
Starting a Tim Horton Collection
With well over 1,500 different cards available and many of them being extremely limited, you can’t go out with the intention of making an effort to chase them all down. Instead, it may be more practical to focus on standard cards and inserts and grabbing memorabilia or cut signatures as they become available. There are currently over 2,500 Horton cards on eBay right now.
At this point, it seems like there will always be new Horton cards to collect and each new one is probably a better treat for you than a coffee and a doughnut.
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