Wayne Gretzky: "The Great One" wanted to play baseball first

Wayne Gretzky is a retired Canadian ice hockey player and coach. He had a professional career that spanned 20 years in the NHL, playing for four different teams from 1979 to 1999. He was born on Jan. 26, 1961, and was awarded the CC (Companion of the Order of Canada) honor.

Wayne Gretzky is considered a legend in ice hockey, but in a different reality, he might have excelled in baseball. During his childhood, Gretzky played various sports, including boxing and lacrosse, and had aspirations of becoming a successful distance runner. Even while dominating youth hockey, he used to listen to St. Louis Cardinals games on the radio before going to sleep.

However, if not for his father's influence and the realization that he would face difficulties in reaching the Major Leagues in baseball, his career path might have been different.

In an interview with Dan Patrick, Dan Patrick Gretzky said:

"I would've taken baseball all day long."

The Detroit Tigers, upon learning of their latest famous supporter, extended an offer to Gretzky for a shirt with his recognizable number 99 and his name printed on the back.

Wayne Gretzky's glorious career

Wayne Gretzky, also known as "The Great One," had an illustrious career in ice hockey. He was born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. From a young age, Gretzky showed natural talent for the sport and played minor hockey in his hometown. He quickly rose through the ranks, playing junior hockey for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.

Gretzky's professional career began in 1978 when he signed with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association (WHA), but he only played eight games before the team folded. He was then traded to the Edmonton Oilers, where he spent the majority of his career and established himself as one of the greatest players of all time.

In 1979, the Oilers joined the NHL, and Wayne Gretzky led the team to four Stanley Cup championships in five years. During his time with the Oilers, he won eight Hart Trophies as the NHL's Most Valuable Player, seven Art Ross Trophies as the league's leading scorer, and two Conn Smythe Trophies as playoff MVP.

In 1988, Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, where he played for eight seasons. He continued to set records and won his ninth Hart Trophy in 1989-90. He then played for the St. Louis Blues for a season before being traded to the New York Rangers, where he played the final three years of his career.

Gretzky retired in 1999 as the NHL's all-time leading scorer with 2,857 points in 1,487 games. He held 61 NHL records at the time of his retirement, many of which still stand today. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999, and his number 99 was retired league-wide in 2000.

After retiring as a player, Wayne Gretzky briefly served as head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes and was part-owner of the team.