James, who appeared in 149 games for the Maple Leafs from 1954 to 1960, tallied a total of 14 goals and 26 assists, accumulating 40 points over his career. Alongside his hockey endeavors, James pursued a career as a running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL), achieving considerable success with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, securing four Grey Cup championships from 1952 to 1962. He also spent one season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1964. Remarkably, James made his CFL debut at just 17 years old, becoming the youngest player in league history. His contributions to Canadian football were recognized with his induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1981, following in the footsteps of his father Eddie, who was enshrined in 1963.
Notably, James holds a unique distinction as the only individual to participate in both a Grey Cup Final and a Stanley Cup Final within the same season, accomplishing this feat during the 1959-60 season.
During his junior hockey career, James secured the 1955 Memorial Cup with the Toronto Marlboros, shortly after being named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian. His debut NHL game with the Maple Leafs occurred just days after winning the Memorial Cup, marking the culmination of an impressive string of achievements across multiple sports.
In a remarkable display of versatility, on November 30, 1957, James, fresh off being named the Most Outstanding Canadian for the second time, competed in the Grey Cup with the Blue Bombers, despite suffering a loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Later that same evening, he donned the Maple Leafs jersey, making his first appearance of the 1957-58 NHL season.
