The Death Of A Favorite Blueshirts Fan

The day that Sam Rosen was honored for being the ultimate Rangers announcer, was the last day that Hal Gelman watched his beloved Blueshirts play.

Gelman, who died yesterday at 93, would not miss viewing the Rangers if he could help it. 

"Hal was very weak the day of the Vancouver game," recalled his son Randy who was at his father's side. "But he still wanted to see the game. Dad got what he wanted – a Rangers victory."

Hal Gelman passed away the next morning, as passionate as anyone in the sprawling community of Rangerville.

The Maven knows, since Hal and I go back a good 75 years – originally meeting in a hockey setting – what else!

This was the start of the 1950-51 season and Herb Goren, the new Rangers press agent, had just organized the Rangers Fan Club.

We were a jolly group of devotees who went on road trips, hung banners and weren't big fans of referee Red Storey. (Not too many naches for Bill Chadwick either!)

It didn't matter that the club missed the playoffs for five straight years 'cause our boys tried their hardest, never took a night off and ended every season with the immortal cry "WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR."

Actually "Next Year" finally arrived in 1955-56 and that was the season when Pal Hal and I had our one and only disagreement.  He loved coach Phil Watson and I hated him. (Okay, just loathed Phiery Phil.)

By that time I was covering Watson for The Hockey News while Hal was hanging out with Phil, his suddenly bosom buddy.

But Gelman and I loved the team just the same; and continued our friendship through the Andy Bathgate years; the season (1961-62) when Doug Harvey was player coach and on into expansion.

Eventually, the Fan Club faded away but Hal and I managed to stay in touch, although less frequently than before.

So, it was a feeling of shock and grief that gripped me when Randy called yesterday with the painful news.

"But before he left us Dad still managed to see them win one more game," his son remembered, "and we did win."

It was only fitting because – when all was said and done – Hal Gelman was the ultimate Rangers fan!

R.I.P. Pal.