California Golden Seals: A Tale of White Skates, Red Ink, and One of the NHL's Most Outlandish Teams

The California Golden Seals were a hockey team that existed from 1967 to 1978. They are known for their bizarre tales, such as using live seals as mascots, players wearing skates painted white, and draft picks being dealt away nonchalantly. The team lost tons of money and games, cheated death more often than Evel Knievel, and left behind a long trail of broken dreams. This book examines their mismanaged history, from their ballyhooed beginnings as a minor-league champion to their steep slide into oblivion after moving to Cleveland.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 498 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2020
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

From 1967 to 1978, the California Golden Seals were a hockey team that defied all expectations and became a laughingstock of the sport. Originally based in Oakland, the team was a revolving door of players, apathetic owners, and ridiculous marketing decisions that turned it into a traveling circus. The team lost tons of money, games, and even cheated death more often than Evel Knievel. They left behind a long trail of broken dreams and a legacy of incompetence that is still talked about to this day.

The Seals' bizarreness began in the early 1960s when they were a minor-league champion. They were known for their fast-paced, high-scoring style of play and their colorful uniforms, which featured live seals as mascots. However, their success was short-lived, and they soon found themselves struggling to stay in the league.

In 1967, the team was purchased by a group of investors who promised to turn things around. However, their promises were soon broken, and the team continued to struggle. They hired a series of coaches who were unable to get the team to perform, and they made a series of questionable trades and draft picks that further weakened the team.

The Seals' problems only worsened in the 1970s when they moved to Cleveland. The team's new owners were even more incompetent than their predecessors, and they made a series of even more questionable decisions that led to the team's decline. They hired a coach who was known for his aggressive and confrontational style of play, which led to a series of player conflicts and injuries.

The Seals' on-ice performance was also terrible. They finished last in their division in each of the three seasons they played in Cleveland, and they were known for their lack of discipline and poor teamwork. They were also plagued by injuries, which further weakened their team.

Off the ice, the Seals' problems were even worse. They were known for their bizarre marketing decisions, such as using live seals as mascots and painting their skates white on a nearly daily basis. They also had a reputation for being a drunken and disorderly team, which led to a series of public embarrassments and fines.

The Seals' final season was in 1978, and it was a disaster. They finished last in their division again, and they were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round. The team's players were fed up with the team's management and ownership, and they refused to play for the Seals again. The team's final game was a 6-0 loss to the New York Islanders, and it was a fitting end to a franchise that had become a laughingstock of the sport.

The California Golden Seals' story is a cautionary tale for any sports franchise that wants to succeed. It is a reminder that success is not just about having the best players and the most money. It is also about having a competent management team and a clear vision for the future. The Seals' mismanagement and incompetence led to their downfall, and it is a story that should be remembered for years to come.

In conclusion, the California Golden Seals' story is a fascinating and cautionary tale of a sports franchise that went from being a minor-league champion to a laughingstock of the sport. The team's mismanagement, incompetence, and bizarre marketing decisions led to their downfall, and it is a story that should be remembered for years to come. The Seals' legacy is a reminder that success in sports is not just about having the best players and the most money. It is also about having a competent management team and a clear vision for the future.

Weight: 740g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496222282