Sports Memorabilia -> Autographs-Original -> Hockey-NHL
Wayne Gretzky, called “The Great One” by many hockey professionals and writers, is one of the most recognizable names in sports throughout the world and widely regarded to be the best hockey player of all time. While even someone who doesn’t like sports knows to think of baseball when they think of Babe Ruth, and basketball when they think of Michael Jordan, hockey is what springs to mind when someone says the name Gretzky. Gretzky was one of the most successful players ever to take to the ice. Though he’s retired now, he remains involved in hockey by being part-owner and head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, a team in the National Hockey League, otherwise known as the NHL.
Wayne Gretzky was born in 1961 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. He played in a backyard hockey rink and perfect the skills that would later lead him to become one of the best known names in the history of professional hockey. One of his signature moves was how he would set up behind the net. It was so unique to him that people began calling that area of the ice “Gretzky’s Office.”
He joined the World Hockey Association, the WHA, in 1978 as a member of the Indianapolis Racers. Soon he joined the Edmonton Oilers, a team that shortly after joined the NHL because the WHA dissolved. As a team member of the Oilers, he helped lead the club to win 4 Stanley Cup Championships—the equivalent of the World Series in Baseball and the Superbowl in football. The Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings, improving that teams performance immensely (they made I to the Cup finals in 1993) and did a great deal to make hockey a more popular sport in the United States.
He then played with the St. Louis Blues, becoming team captain even over long-time captain and god friend Brett Hull, but ended his career as a member of the New York Rangers. Wayne Gretzky was one of the most honored hockey players ever, having won 9 Hart Trophies for being most valuable player, 5 Lady Byng Trophies for sportsmanship and overall performance, 5 Lester B. Pearson awards, 2 Conn Smythe Trophies as the Most Valuable Player during the playoffs, and 10 Art Ross Trophies, which were awarded for scoring the most points in a single season.
Wayne Gretzky retired from hockey in 1999, and was soon after inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame right away. He bought part-ownership in the Phoenix Coyotes in 2000, and became their head coach in 2005. He also served as Executive Director for the Canadian men’s hockey team during the Winter Olympics in 2002, helping them snag the gold. His number is the only number to be officially retired across the board by the NHL.
Wayne Gretzky collectibles range from hockey uniform shirts bearing the number 99 to autographed materials. eBay is a great place for these items, but as with all autographed materials, compare the signature to the star’s known signature to avoid buying a fake.
Photo Credits: Ian Muttoo
Originally posted 2008-10-28 14:00:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Football Memorabilia Sports Memorabilia -> Autographs: Original -> Football-NFL Collecting football memorabilia is a passion for thousands of people and whether you are a huge fan of the sport, or you admire certain athletes, there are many different items that are considered to be highly collectible. It’s easy to enhance your personal...... -
Joe DiMaggio Sports Memorabilia Even today's modern kids who might not even watch baseball or be able to name one single player have heard the name Joe DiMaggio. His name is synonymous with baseball and sports, as he was part of the game during its glory days, when it seemed every...... -
Baseball Memorabilia Sports Memorabilia -> Autographs - Original -> Baseball - MLB Out of all of the sports collectibles, when it comes to the ones that resonate the deepest with collectors, baseball memorabilia is at the top of the list. This is an emotional game, and there are thousands of different things...... -
Formula 1 T-Shirts Sports Memorabilia -> Fan Apparel and Souvenirs -> Racing-Formula 1 One of the most popular types of sports merchandise is apparel, particularly hats and T-shirts. So it stands to reason that Formula 1 T-shirts and other merchandise that celebrates the most popular racing in the world are a hit with...... -
What is the Best Sports Memorabilia? Millions of people are shopping online looking for the best sports memorabilia. The best sports memorabilia can easily span a number of different sports while including a wide range of different items including high demand items, rare items and cool items, funny items and even some more bizarre items as......
Related Websites -
Davis Cup, BMW Malaysian Open, Whirlpool Monterrey Open This week in Tennis brought some incredible tennis on both the menâs and womenâs side of the sport. The men competed in the first round of the Davis Cup, while the women competed in two different tournaments: The BMW Malaysian Open held in Kuala Lumpur, and the Whirlpool Monterrey Open...... -
Player Profile: Fred Couples Fred Couples may not have the star power of some of today’s younger players, but for many, his path to becoming one of the most well respected professionals is the game is inspirational. Couples is known for getting in there and doing his job, and this strategy has paid off...... - Tennis Skills: The Player's Guide Tennis Skills: The Player's Guide is a paperback tennis guide by Tom Sadzeck. This book easily follows the formula which has been successfully used in "Golf Skills", "Hoop Drills" and "Soccer Skills", and Tennis Skills: The Player's Guide is doing an excellent job of providing an in depth look at......
-
2009 Offense Preview What To Know: With Harvin and Murphy gone, the offense is going to be missing their sure thing stars for receiving, but there is plenty of speed to be burned at running back and so the line should be able to grow into something that is terrific. The quarterback situation...... -
Athlete Profile: Dan Wakeham The first male Olympic competitor on snowboard in Britain, Dan Wakeham has announced that he will be retiring from the world cup circuit. He has recently announced that following seven years with the British snowboarding team, he will be retiring from World Cup level competition. Dan Wakeham is only 27......
- Rookies (Pre-1980) Hockey-NHL Cards Sports Collectibles
- 2007-08 Inserts Singles (2000-Now) Hockey-NHL Cards Sports Collectibles
- Montreal Canadiens Hockey-NHL Fan Apparel & Souvenirs Sports Collectibles
- Lead Casting Mold Fish Shaped Weight Mold Downrigger, Outrigger Gear Fishing
- Pucks New York Islanders Hockey-NHL Fan Apparel & Souvenirs Sports Collectibles
