William N. Jacobellis/New York Post
The passing of Donnie Marshall last week at age 92 evoked memories of a long-ago and perhaps forgotten first version of the Letter, only the Rangers’ then-general manager Muzz Patrick might have communicated his plans via telegram in the early 1960s.
The Patricks are the franchise’s Royal Family, though I’m not sure there is even a single reference to the clan in the Garden. Maybe next year’s Centennial will right not only that oversight, but many of the historical wrongs and omissions perpetuated by multiple administrations that relate to the history of this Original Six and legacy franchise whose New York tenure is exceeded only by the Yankees and football Giants.
(The second-greatest defenseman in the franchise’s 99 years still can’t get his number retired? Don’t get me started on that one again. Brad Park’s ongoing snub is a blot on the organization. I digress.)
Muzz Patrick, a great player for the Rangers, eventually succeeded his father and patriarch Lester Patrick as general manager in 1955. The Blueshirts had some decent teams the next few years that were led by Andy Bathgate, Camille Henry, Dean Prentice, Bill Gadsby, Harry Howell, Andy Hebenton, captain Red Sullivan with Gump Worsley in net.