On the same day Muhammad Ali was laid to rest, another all-time sports legend passed away. At 88, Gordie Howe had enjoyed a long, prolific life -- in fact, by North American sports standards, no one's sporting life withstood the test of time better.
Howe holds a number of records for his longevity in professional hockey, and many consider him to be the greatest player in the history of the game. Howe was a player who could do a little bit of everything, and whose career only gets more impressive with the passing of time.
There will never be another like Gordie Howe. But to understand that statement in all its truth, you have to recognize just how unique Howe's life and career was. The man's status as a legend was never in doubt.
1. He Made 29 All-Star Games
How's that for ridiculous statistics? Twenty-three of those All-Star appearances came in the NHL. His total of 29 came in 32 seasons of professional hockey.
Hockey lost a great one today, Gordie Howe, died. Howe played 26 pro seasons in the NHL, 23 all star appearances. pic.twitter.com/Wc6sJkXQtQ
— Marvin James (@sportsguymarv) June 10, 2016
Counting only the NHL All-Star Games, no other player made 20 appearances.
2. He Was A Top 5 NHL Scorer For 20 Straight Seasons
Howe was one of the most well-rounded players in hockey history, but he's best-known for his prowess as a scorer.
TH Fast fact's: The Gordie Howe edition: Mr Hockey had 22 consecutive 20 goals seasons. Ovie has longest current streak at just 11.
— Gino Reda (@GinoRedaTSN) June 10, 2016
Fast facts con't: Mr Hockey finished in the top 5 in the NHL in scoring for 20 straight seasons. No one else is was even close
— Gino Reda (@GinoRedaTSN) June 10, 2016
Howe owned a number of all-time NHL scoring records until Wayne Gretzky broke them in the 1990s.
3. He Met His Wife In A Bowling Alley When He Was 17
Ahh, young love. By the time Howe met his future wife, Colleen, he was already playing for the Detroit Red Wings. She, meanwhile, was attending high school in Detroit. They were married four years later.
Hockey - ‘She was everything': Gordie Howe held on tight to wife Co >> https://t.co/rqah2iSchn #nhl pic.twitter.com/EK5iJNuuzm
— NHL SportMag (@NHLSportMag) June 10, 2016
With one of Howe's many nicknames being "Mr. Hockey," Colleen Howe was then dubbed "Mrs. Hockey."
4. His Number Was Retired In 1972, But He Played Until 1980
In 1971, Howe retired at the ripe old age of 43. Sure that he was done, the Red Wings retired his jersey in 1972.
But after two seasons away from the game, Howe returned to the ice. And not just for another season or two: He went on for another seven years.
Love the Gordie Howe Whalers look. RIP #9 pic.twitter.com/wRbZRyePQC
— Todd Johns (@toddjohns) June 10, 2016
Howe spent six years in the WHA before his team, the Whalers, joined the NHL in his last season.
5. He Didn't Quit Playing Until He Was 52
He's the oldest professional athlete ever to play any of the four major American sports. In fact, he owns pretty much every longevity record you could dream up.
I got to photograph Gordie Howe, 52, & Bobby Hull, 41, in 1980 with the Hartford Whalers in The Aud @BuffaloSabres pic.twitter.com/A201n6U2kR
— Bill Wippert (@BWipp) June 10, 2016
Howe's professional career spanned five different decades, which no other athlete has ever done.
6. He Played Professional Hockey With Two Of His Sons
One motivation for un-retiring in 1973: Howe wanted to play hockey with his sons. He joined Marty and Mark on the Houston Aeros, a WHA team.
La famille de Gordie Howe, son épouse Colleen, et ses fils Marty et Mark avec Jack Kelley des Whalers, 1977 pic.twitter.com/mcMIjBnDww
— Photos Histoires (@PhotosHistos) February 24, 2016
That season, at 46 and after two years away from the game, he won the league's MVP award.
7. His Wife Was A Pioneering Female Sports Agent
Colleen Howe was a force in her own right: She became one of the first major female sports agents in the industry and enjoyed other professional achievements, including writing books.
Howe was always quick to credit his wife for his success
"The key is our love for hockey, & each other -Colleen Howe pic.twitter.com/RKDz74jjcH— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) June 10, 2016
Howe was always quick to credit her for his own success. They remained married until her death in 2009.
8. Some Of His Best Seasons Came In His Forties
Twice in his mid-40s, Howe scored more than 100 points in a season, ranking among the most prolific scoring campaigns of his long career.
RIP Gordie Howe, 1928-2016; 1973-77 Houston Aeros pic.twitter.com/fv3bI4loZP
— Astros Daily (@AstrosDaily) June 10, 2016
Few players seem to get better with age, but it often seemed like Howe had managed to pull it off.
9. He Only Earned Two 'Gordie Howe Hat Tricks' In His Career
Howe's multi-faceted skills were so famous that a novelty stat was invented in his honor: The "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" reflects a player who records a goal, assist and a fight in the same game. Although it's an unofficial stat, hockey enthusiasts have kept track over the years, with a few players tallying more than a dozen GHHTs in their careers. The San Jose Sharks even track the stat in their media guide:
Despite being its namesake, Gordie Howe only recorded two of them in his professional hockey career.
10. His Face Received More Than 500 Stitches Over His Career
Few athletes have represented toughness as well as Howe, and that reputation wasn't in name only. A close look at his face could reveal the hard truths of a 32-year professional hockey career:
"@si_vault: Cool old-school graphic of Gordie Howe,showing all the facial cuts and stitches he received in his career: pic.twitter.com/sD5gpfiU"
— Allie C (@Allie874) December 9, 2011
Since the news of his passing was announced Friday, the hockey world has been in mourning, paying their respects to Mr. Hockey. Some of the highlights:
Unfortunately we lost the greatest hockey player ever today, but more importantly the nicest man I have ever met. (1/2)
— Wayne Gretzky (@OfficialGretzky) June 10, 2016
Sending our thoughts and prayers to the Howe family and to the millions of hockey fans who like me loved Gordie Howe. RIP Mr. Hockey. (2/2)
— Wayne Gretzky (@OfficialGretzky) June 10, 2016
U were a legend!! my best to all your family #9RIP pic.twitter.com/aayfVicvEj
— Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) June 10, 2016
Thoughts and prayers to the Howe family as Gordie Howe passes away at the age of 88. #9RIP pic.twitter.com/i9KRzXRgwV
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 10, 2016
Rest in peace, Mr. Hockey.
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