Andy Bathgate of the New York Rangers, the flashy right-winger who scored 40 goals although playing with two damaged knees, yesterday won the 1958 59 Hart Trophy as the National Hockey League's most valuable player.
The vote of the writers and broadcasters in each of the six league cities gave Bathgate a substantial margin over his closest competitor Gordie Howe of Detroit. Howe is a four-time Hart Trophy winner.
Bathgate piled up 133 points in the split-season balloting. Howe had M points followed by Jean Beliveau of the champion Montreal Canadiens with 36.
Terry Sawchuck of Detroit was fourth with 34.
Bathgate is the third Ranger player to win the award. The others were Charlie Raynor, a goalie, in 1950 and Buddy O'Connor, a center, in 1948 ‘ The trophy was first presented in 1924.
Playing with a silver plate in his left knee and a steel brace protecting his right knee, Bathgate added 4R assist* to his goal output for an 88-point aggregate. He finished only behind Dickie Moore the leader, and Beliveau, the runner-up. in the competition for the individual scoring title.
Bathgate is only the second player in the last -18 years to win the Hart Trophy while playing for a team which did not qualify for the postseason playoffs. The other was goalie Al Rollins of the Chicago Black Hawks in 1954 Tne Ranger* wound up in fifth place the past season.
Bathgate, 26, from Vancouver, will receive $l.wx) in addition to the trophy. He also got $1,000 for being named to the NHL first All-Star team last season, the Rangers' s star was second and one for third. Rath-gate received 67 points in the first half balloting, which was based on games through Dec. II. and 66 in the second half. Howe polled 36 in the first half and 24 in the second BeIiveau collected his entire total in the second half.
Others who received consideration were Moore, 11 points: Ted Sloan. Chicago, 10; Ed Litrcnherger and Ted Lindsay, Chicago, seven each; Don McKenney, Boston, six; Jacques Plante. Montreal, five; Glenn Hall. Chicago and Doug Harvey. Montreal, three each; Bernie Geoffnnn. Tom Johnson and Henri Richard of Montreal, two each; Doug Mohns of Boston, Marcel Prnnnvost nf Detroit and Red Sullivan. New York, one each.
