Biography
Jack Caffery grew up in Leaside and attended St Michael’s College School, where he played hockey for the Junior “B” Buzzers and the Junior “A” Majors. He was also an effective left-handed baseball pitcher, and played semi-pro for St. Thomas in the Ontario Intercounty League. At age 20, he signed professional contracts with the Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey) and the Milwaukee Braves (baseball). Unwilling to give up baseball, he was traded by the Leafs to the Boston Bruins in 1956 and played a full season there. His baseball career (1955-64) was played mainly at the AA and AAA level and his hockey career (1954-61) in the AHL. Jack was the first “home-grown” Leasider to play in the NHL, and is credited with being the originator of the “backward” grip for face-offs.