Lou Marsh Trophy

Louis Edwin Marsh

Louis Edwin Marsh died on 5 March 1936 after 43 years as a journalist and was regarded as the dean of Canadian sports journalism. In his youth he was an excellent all-around athlete. He played on the Toronto Senior Argonaut football team and was a good sprinter and strong swimmer, being credited with some 15 rescues in the water. He raced iceboats and small speedboats, for which he coined the term "sea fleas," and was a highly regarded referee in boxing and ice hockey. His daily sports column in the Toronto Starfrom 1925 to 1936 was entitled "With Pick and Shovel," describing his tenacious ability to obtain an in-depth analysis of the sporting scene.

Lou Marsh Trophy

Made of black marble, the Lou Marsh Trophy stands about 75 cm high. The words "With Pick and Shovel" appear above the engraved names of the winners, which include the first recipient, track athlete Dr. Phillip Edwards (1936), swimmer Marilyn Bell and figure skater Petra Burka. Hockey star Wayne Gretzky received the award the most times, four, followed by figure skater Barbara Ann Scott with three. A number of athletes have twice received the trophy: golfer Marlene Streit, skier Nancy Greene, jockey Sandy Hawley, sprinter Ben Johnson, auto racer Jacques Villeneuve and hockey player Sidney Crosby. The Lou Marsh Trophy has been shared on two occasions: between skier Ken Read and swimmer Graham Smith in 1978, and between Gretzky and wheelchair racer Rick Hansen in 1983.

The trophy is kept on exhibit at Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Lou Marsh Trophy Winners