Why is Bobby Bauer in the Hall of Fame?

Bobby Bauer was part of the famous Kraut Line. And he won two Stanley Cups, one Memorial Cup and one Allan Cup. (He might be the last hockey player to win all three.)

But he was never even the best player on his own team, let alone in the league. And he underperformed in the NHL playoffs.

Not only is it kind of strange that he’s in the Hall of Fame, but it’s extra strange he was inducted 40+ years after he retired and over 30 years after he died.

So why is Bobby Bauer in the Hall of Fame?

Listen as we try to find out:

Bobby Bauer’s Career:

• NHL: 1936-1942, 1945-47 (plus a 1 game comeback in 1951-2); 8 seasons, 7 quality
• Totals:
  • 123G, 
  • 137A for 
  • 260P in 
  • 327 games; 
  • 32 PS
• Per Game: Bauer doesn’t qualify; however, if the qualifier is set at 300 games played, at his initial retirement in 1947, Bauer was 
  • 18th in GPG, 
  • 11th in APG and 
  • 13th in PPG
• Era: Of the 48 players to have played in at least 300 games between 1936 and 1947, Bauer is 
  • 18th in Goals, 
  • 11th in GPG and APG, 
  • 21st in Points and PS, 
  • 13th in PPG, 
  • 14th in OPS, and 
  • 40th in Games
• 82-game average: 31G, 34A for 66P
• 3-year peak (1939-42): 48-game average of 17G, 26A for 44P
• Playoffs: 
  • 11G, 
  • 8A for 
  • 19P in 
  • 48 games
  • Per Game: doesn’t qualify
  • Era: Of the 38 skaters to play in at least 41 playoff games between 1936 and 1947, Bauer is
    • 18th in Goals
    • 16th in GPG
    • 30th in Assists
    • 30th in APG
    • 22nd in Points
    • 25th in PPG
    • 24th in Games
• Adjusted: 
  • Hockey-Reference:
    • 174G, 
    • 227A for 
    • 401P
    • Adjusted 82-game average: 44G, 57A for 101P (+45P per 82 games)
    • Per game: doesn’t qualify
  • VsX: doesn’t qualify for the adjustment
  • Never traded.

Bobby Bauer’s Accomplishments:

• Lady Byng (’40, ’41, ’47)
• To Player:
  • Top 5 Offensive Player (by OPS) twice (’40, ’47), 
  • Top 10 four times (’38, ’39)
• Goals:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Goals once, 
    • Top 10 four times
  • GPG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in GPG once, 
    • Top 10 three times
  • Single-season totals:
    • 30 goals once, 
    • 20 goals twice
• Assists:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Assists once, 
    • Top 10 twice
  • APG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in APG once, 
    • Top 10 twice
• Points: 
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Points once, 
    • Top 10 three times
  • PPG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in PPG once, Top 10 thrice
  • Single-season totals:
    • 50 points once
• All Star:
  • 2nd Team All Star four times
  • 1 All Star Game appearances
• VsX Peak:
  • Best 7 Seasons:
    • Goals: 159th
    • Assists: 198th
    • Points: 142nd
  • Best 10 seasons: doesn’t qualify for the adjustment

Bobby Bauer’s Great Teams

• NHL:
  • Top 3 Forward (by points) on one Runner Up (’46 Bruins), 
  • Top 6 Forward (by points) on two Champions (’39, ’41 Bruins) and three Final Fours (’37, ’40, ’47 Bruins)
• Memorial Cup:
  • Best Player? (by points) on one Memorial Cup Champion (’34 Majors)
• Senior:
  • Best Player? (by points) on one Allan Cup Champion (’42 Flyers).