Babe Pratt
A charismatic, high-scoring defenseman from hockey's Original Six era who won the Hart Trophy and two Stanley Cups with his bold, offensive style.
1916–1988 (age 72)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: January 7·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Babe Pratt was a larger-than-life character and one of the most offensively gifted defensemen of his generation. In an era when blueliners were expected to stay at home, the 6'3" Pratt roamed the ice with audacity, quarterbacking plays and piling up points. His cheerful personality and penchant for mischief made him a beloved figure in locker rooms, even as his defensive lapses occasionally drove coaches to distraction. His peak came with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where his daring play was perfectly harnessed; in 1944, his outstanding season was crowned with the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player. He won Stanley Cups with both the New York Rangers and the Maple Leafs, his name etched on the trophy in 1940 and 1945. Pratt's career, though later marred by a gambling suspension, is remembered for its joyful, crowd-pleasing flair, helping to redefine what a defenseman could be.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Babe was born in 1916, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Babe Was Born
The biggest hits of 1916
#1 Movie
Intolerance
Babe's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1916Born
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Started school
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1929Became a teenager
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1932Could drive
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1934Could vote
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Turned 21
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1946Turned 30
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 40
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 50
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 60
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 70
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Died at 72
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
Key Achievements
- Won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player in 1944 while with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
- Won the Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1940 and with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1945.
- Led all NHL defensemen in scoring three times during his career.
- Was named a First Team All-Star in 1944 and a Second Team All-Star in 1941.
Did You Know?
He was famously suspended for the remainder of the 1946-47 season for betting on NHL games, though he was reinstated the following year.
After retiring, he worked as a color commentator for Vancouver Canucks broadcasts.
His son, Tracy Pratt, also played in the NHL as a defenseman.
Pratt was known for his exceptional puck-handling skills and was one of the first defensemen to consistently join the offensive rush.
“I just saw an opening and went for it; sometimes you get caught.”
