The Wayne Gretzky celebrity doll portrays him as a  former New York Rangers ice hockey player before his retirement in 1999.  The doll is  a 1998 Starting Lineup Sports Superstar Collectible made by Kenner (now Hasbro) and  licensed by the NHL.  Gretzky went on the be a part owner and eventually head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. He has also worked with the National Canadian Olympic hockey teams.  He has an official website at www.gretzky.com.

Gretzky is considered one of the best NHL players and his nickname was “The Great One”. He held 61 NHL hockey records at his retirement.  He was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999 having had the usual waiting period waived.

WAYNE GRETZKY

With skates strapped to his feet barely before he could walk, Wayne Gretzky was taught by his Canadian father to “skate where the puck is going, not to where it’s been.” The proverbial prodigal son, Gretzky was playing with the 10 year-olds when he was six, and at 10, he was skating with a novice league of developed teenagers. In 1977, when he was 16, young Wayne entered the Sault Sainte Marie league to finish his hockey education. It was there that he began to wear the fateful jersey, Number 99. He wanted Number 9, in tribute to his hero and idol Gordie Howe, but a teammate had already claimed that number. Coincidentally, 1977 was also the year that Phil Esposito and Ken Hodge, two hockey legends, were traded to the New York Rangers®, sporting Numbers 77 and 88. The general manager of Gretzky’s team then suggested that he wear Number 88 to double his luck. After refusing the idea and briefly wearing Numbers 19 and 14, Gretzky than decided to take his manager’s advice and adorn himself with Number 99.

At 17, Gretzky joined the World Hockey Association as an Indianapolis Racer for only eight games. His contract was then sold to the Edmonton Oilers®. It was in Edmonton that Gretzky began his career as the most accomplished player of all time, rewriting the record boos as his own personal journal.

In his 17 years as an NHL player, Gretzky has been a member of four teams; the Edmonton Oilers®, St. Louis Blues®, L.A. Kings® and the New York Rangers®. He has won 10 Art Ross trophies as scoring champion, two Conn Smythe trophies for playoff MVP, and four Lady Byng trophies for most gentlemanly player. In his illustrious career, he has accomplished such feats as 14 times leading the league is assists, 6 times leading all scorers in Stanley Cup® play, and 13 times being named to the NHL® All-Star Team. Gretzky has set 61 single-game, one-season, and career-scoring records.

Not only has his record-breaking made him the spokesman for hockey, but his demeanor on the ice is just another reason for his stardom. Gretzky is a finesse player, strongly opposed to fighting and violence on the ice. His graceful way of playing has often been compared to that of a chess grandmaster, always a few steps ahead of the others.

With his refined style of playing, Gretzky has done it all. He is the most statistically dominant athlete in the history of team sports. He is THE GREAT ONE.

The doll comes wearing a replica New York Rangers hockey uniform complete with helmet, skates, gloves, stick and puck.  It is fully articulated as in typical Starting Lineup figures with bendable legs, arms, a neck that moves in every direction, jointed wrists and , and swivel waist.    The skates come off and  the hockey socks go from the ankle to the top of the thighs, but the gloves are permanently attached.  There are no hand underneath. But there is removable chest and shoulder protection under the uniform. The doll is easy to pose in hockey positions.

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