Any Seals fan will tell you that game footage of their favourite team is extremely rare, and very few full games still exist, mainly because of the fact not many Seals games were actually broadcast on television. Those that were broadcast, however, like a great deal of footage from the 1960s and 1970s, were either discarded or taped over by networks instead of preserved. Luckily, thanks to the miracle of YouTube, the footage that remains is accessible to everyone. Here are just a few links to some great Seals’ video and audio clips.
Get ready for a great conversation with former Cleveland Barons radio play-by-play man Larry Hirsch. Author Glenn Dreyfuss hosts this online chat sponsored by the Society for International Hockey Research. Hirsch talks about the time he was hazed by members of the Barons, the much-maligned Richfield Coliseum, the time the Barons almost folded in mid-season, his relationship with broadcasting partner (and later Barons general manager Harry Howell) and much more.
Black Hawks vs. Barons, Jan. 26, 1978 (in 3 parts)
I found these three wonderful clips on YouTube. It is about 45 minutes worth of radio game footage from the infamous January 26, 1978 game in which the city of Chicago was hammered by a horrendous winter storm, yet 527 fans somehow managed to trudge their way to the Coliseum just to watch a last-place team take on an Original Six club that had definitely seen better days. Talk about dedication!
Good Seats Still Available: Episode #269 – The NHL’s Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Cup with Steve Currier
Seals vs Canucks, Jan. 3, 1973 post-game recap:
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Cleveland Barons, Oct. 23, 1977 (rare game footage!)
The 4-1-0 Cleveland Barons, who had also won four in a row (you read that right) take on the 2-3-1 Pittsburgh Penguins at Richfield Coliseum. Attendance on this night was a paltry 5,910, but when you see the video, that figure won’t surprise you. Also, if you’re looking for a tax break, and you happen to live in Pennsylvania, and have access to a time machine, you are in luck, my friend, as you’ll see when you get to the 15:24 mark.
Good Seats Still Available: Episode #181 – Columbus’ IHL Hockey Heritage with Eric Weltner
All of you Seals fans will want to check out Tim Hanlon’s interview with Eric Weltner, who has recently completed a documentary on Columbus’ hockey history, which includes a rather dubious two-year stint from the Seals’ minor-league franchise, the Columbus Golden Seals, whose 25-117 record tells you just about all you need to know about the Baby Seals’ talent level. You can also check out some of Tim’s earlier episodes about the Seals by clicking on the links below.
What can I say, the Seals are finally starting to catch on fifty years after their first NHL game! Tim Hanlon interviews me about my book, The California Golden Seals: a Tale of White Skates, Red Ink, and One of the NHL’s Most Outlandish Teams, which is actually the third interview related to the Seals that he has done for his podcast. You can check out the others below.
Tim Hanlon talks to Krazy George about how he became sports’ most famous cheerleader, how he created the wave, as well as his book, Still Krazy After All These Cheers, available on Amazon.
Host Tim Hanlon talks to Mark about his Seals documentary and the legacy of the franchise in professional hockey.
Interview with Seals Booster Morie Kahane on the Papa and Lund Show of KNBR 104.5 FM San Francisco
Mark Willand of the Pro Hockey Alumni podcast has lots of Seals-related episodes you should check out:
Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast, episode 32: Rick Smith, April 12, 2019
A Tribute to Mike Christie, episode 45, August 3, 2019
Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast, episode 71: Wayne Carleton, April 30, 2020
Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast, episode 60: Dennis Maruk, December 7, 2019
Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast, episode 54: Gary Smith (part one), November 1, 2019
Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast, episode 55: Gary Smith (part two), November 8, 2019
This is a great two-part interview with former Seals goaltender Gary “Suitcase” Smith. In the first part, Smith talks about what it was like growing up in Ottawa, moving up through the Toronto Maple Leafs system, playing for the Rochester Americans with Don Cherry, as well as his time with the Seals. In part two, Smith talks about his two-year stint with the Chicago Black Hawks, his rise to stardom as an all-star in Vancouver and the later years of his career, which included an Avco Cup in Winnipeg in 1979. Smith is a great story-teller to be sure, so check out the two links to this podcast which fell under my radar for far too long.
“Downtown” with Rich Kimball – Sports Lit 101, December 27, 2017
Kimball and guest Bruce Pratt talk about the history of the Seals.
Steve’s interview with Todd Lewis of Hockey Unfiltered, January 6, 2018. You can listen to the mp3 of the interview below.
Steve’s interview with Pat Williams of Inside the Game, December 20, 2017. You can listen to parts one and two of the interview below.
Steve’s interview with Mark Paul of Overtime Hockey Talk, December 7, 2017. You can listen to the mp3 of the 52 minute interview below.
Steve’s Interview with Sports Byline USA, October 30, 2017. You can listen to the mp3 of the 12 minute interview below.
Bonus Footage – Seals Throwback Night
Here is some footage shot by Mark Greczmiel during Seals Throwback Night on January 7, 2017.
Some very neat radio broadcasts here from the Seals Western League days courtesy of Booster Club member and former Seals employee Len Shapiro. First, there are 15 minutes of broadcast time from the overtime period of game seven of the 1963 Lester Patrick Cup final, which the Seals won. Then there are 40 minutes from the sixth game of the 1964 final against Los Angeles, which the Seals also won to capture their second championship. Finally, a bit of an oddball game: a very wild February 16, 1966 contest between the Seals and… Quebec Aces? Yup, and you can 105 minutes of that broadcast.
California Golden Seals History
A mid-1980s clip goes over the nine-year history of the NHL Seals. There’s also a little audio treat in the clip for all you Star Wars fans out there!
Vadnais vs. Magnuson – December 19, 1969
Chicago’s Keith Magunson and the Seals’ Carol Vadnais drop the gloves several times during a game in Oakland.
Seals vs. Toronto (1st period) – February 7, 1970
The first period of the Seals-Toronto contest. It features stars such as Ted Hampson, Gary Smith, Carol Vadnais, Norm Ullman, Tim Horton, and many others.
Seals vs. Toronto (3rd period) – February 7, 1970
The Seals begin the third period down by three. Can they come back to win it? On a side note, if you’ve ever wanted to see one of goaltender Gary Smith’s patented rushes up the ice, keep your eyes peeled around the seven minute mark of the period as he makes a break for the Toronto net.
Seals vs. Montreal – December 19, 1971
Seals vs. Chicago – December 22, 1971
8mm footage of Gilles Meloche (circa 1972)
8mm home movies of Seals (circa 1970s)
Some great 8mm home movies of the Seals taking on the L.A. Kings.
8mm home movies of 1973-74 Seals
Mark Greczmiel shot some footage of the Seals as they took on the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, and Boston Bruins.
A mash-up of Seals clips that includes footage of the 1975-76 Seals, a nasty game of cat-and-mouse from 1969 between Carol Vadnais and Chicago’s Keith Magnuson, and the infamous 1972 game in which the Seals blew a 6-1 lead to Boston.
This clip was recorded in Edmonton back in February 1986, a full ten years after the Seals moved to Cleveland. It was produced by Mark Greczmiel, who is currently making a documentary on the Seals. In this clip, the Boosters took a road trip together to the Alberta capital to watch Wayne Gretzky and the Oilers. At the time, it was unusual for any booster club to exist with no team to support, but today it is downright incredible that the Booster Club still exists some forty years after the Seals’ demise.