Ray Bourque squares off against Joe Cronin in the first round of Boston’s Biggest Sports Legend tournament.
No Bruins player became more loved by the city of Boston than Ray Bourque. The B’s defenseman called the Garden home for 21 seasons and put his heart and soul on the line every night in Black and Gold, but the 16-year captain never was able to raise a Cup for his efforts — until the Bruins dished him off for one final hurrah in Denver. Bourque finished his career with the most points among blue liners in NHL history — 1,579. He also won five Norris Trophies and ranks as the Bruins’ all-time leader in games played (1,518) and points (1,506) and ranks fourth in goals (395). Ray Bourque displayed his class on the night of Dec. 3, 1987, when B’s legend Phil Esposito’s No. 7 was to be retired to the Garden rafters. Bourque relinquished his No. 7 and from then on wore No. 77, so that Esposito’s jersey could be retired into Bruin immortality.
Joe Cronin established himself as a great coach and player after seven seasons with the Washington Senators in the early 1930s, but the shortstop became a legend as a Red Sox player-manager. The seven-time All-Star retired in 1945 as a .301 lifetime hitter and a .300 hitter in 11 seasons with the Red Sox. During his stay in the Hub, Cronin dominated pitching at Fenway. In 1938, he banked a .536 slugging percentage while also leading the AL in doubles with 51. Cronin hit a career-high 24 homers in 1940 but wasn’t just a one-dimensional player as he also led the league in putouts and assists. Perhaps one of biggest moves he made as a manager was taking himself out of the lineup — despite hitting .311 with 16 homers and 95 RBIs — for Johnny Pesky in 1941.
« 1. Bobby Orr vs. 16. Harry Agganis | 3. John Havlicek vs. 14. Jack Parker »
