Bobby Hull

by Jim Hunt

Hardcover

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't normally read books about athletes that were written while they were still playing, but this small book (100 pages) about hockey's Golden Jet written eight years into his career is an interesting period piece. Half the book examines his on-ice exploits, while the other half explores the man and his off-ice endeavours. In 1966, when the book was written, Hull had become one of hockey's top spokesmen in the US. His popularity rivalled Gordie Howe's and his more extroverted personality helped the NHL sell the game to the US markets that they would be expanding to in only two short years. What is interesting is the author's contention, based on interviews with Hull, that Hull would retire at age 30, having made enough money to do what he really wanted to do, run a cattle farm just outside Belleville ON. What happened of course is that Hull continued playing for the Chicago Blackhakws until age 33, just missing a Stanley Cup on two occasions by one victory, and then became hockey's first millionaire player, signing a huge contract as one of the first and most famous players to jump to the World Hockey Association, where he starred for the Winnipeg Jets. When the NHL and WHA merged in 1979, Hull played one more year, at age 41. So he didn't retire young, but he did earn more than enough to run his cattle farm! An interesting look at a time when the NHL was on the verge of going through major changes, and a player who was a big part of those changes.