99 : My Life in Pictures

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If the child is truly father to the man, it's hard to miss the man The Great One would become in his boyhood pictures on the ice; the features mature, but the exuberance and determination they express never waver. Hockey fans of all allegiances--and, of course, Wayne Gretzky aficionados in particular--will revel in this sparkling photographic celebration of the best hockey player to ever tie on skates. A star before he turned 13, his wattage never faded; his career is captured here from beginning to end. Literally. Photos of his first goal as a pee-wee and his final, tearful wave to the fans at Madison Square Garden bookend the splendid achievements of an athlete who, in 21 professional seasons, would virtually rewrite his sport's record book. John Davidson, a former NHL goalie-turned-commentator, recalls Gretzky's brilliance in his introductory essay, titled "The Meaning of Wayne." It would take volumes, though, to capture the meaning that comes through, page after page, in the images presented in this public, and personal, scrapbook. --Jeff Silverman


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Ranked with basketball's Michael Jordan and soccer's Pele, hockey's Wayne Gretzky retired from the NHL in April 1999. The center who played with the New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, and Edmonton Oilers left the game with 2,857 points, 894 goals, and 1,963 assists. 99: My Life in Pictures traces the Great One's career from playing in his father's backyard rink in Brantford, Ontario, through his unprecedented 21-year pro career during which he rewrote the NHL record book - breaking 61 NHL records, leading Canada in international competition, and captaining the Oilers to four Stanley Cup titles. With insightful essays and more than 250 images, 99 deserves a place on every sports fan's shelf.


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