When did Harold Ballard become owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Answer 1

Conn Smythe bought the Toronto St Pats franchise in the National Hockey League on February 14, 1927, and immediately changed the team's name to Maple Leafs. In the early sixties, Smythe sold Maple Leaf Gardens to Harold Ballard, John Bassett, and his son, Stafford Smythe. Bassett sold his shares to Ballard and Stafford Smythe in September 1971. After Stafford Smythe died, on October 13, 1971, Ballard bought Smythe's shares from Smythe's estate in February 1972, and took over control of the Leafs.