First player to come out of retirement?

[steveat]

I'm just curious as to who the first player retired, then came back to play again. The first memory I have was Guy Lafleur retiring and coming back not so long after...I think he started a trend because a ton of players did it after him. Well...more than usual anyway.

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[jkrx]

Gordie Howe came out of retirement to play with his sons in Houston in '74, Ted Lindsay did it in '65.

Andy Bathgate came back in '74.

 

[Nalyd Psycho]

Dickie Moore when he joined St. Louis maybe?

 

[MS]

Loads of guys retired in the mid-60s only to come back a few years later. Moore, Plante, Brewer, Geoffrion, Lindsay are 5 that spring straight to mind.

Bobby Bauer came back for 1 game in 1952 after being retired for 5 years and promptly scored a goal and an assist.

 

[BM67]

Jack Darragh retired in 1921 then came back to play two more years after a year off.

 

[Crosbyfan]

Dickie Moore when he joined St. Louis maybe?

I think there was a number that came back with the 67 expansion.

A number who had been "retired' to the AHL came back as well.

 

[ClasslessGuy]

and what's the longest time between the retirement and the come back?

 

[Pitlick*]

My guess for longest time is Carl Brewer. Or Howie Young if you count minors.


The 1st player I can think of is Frank McGee, who lost his eye, quit, then returned to play for 3 seasons of Stanley Cup winning Ottawa Silver Seven, then retired again. Around 1903-6 I think.

 

[ricky0034]

well if you ignore the WHA then Gordie Howe retired in 1971 and came back to the NHL in 1979

 

[Big Phil]

Gump Worsley is another name, although it was short-lived. No one mentioned Mario yet? Or Claude Lemieux? Theo Fleury had an aborted attempt two years ago. Cam Neely tried in 1998. Does anyone remember Rick Vaive once flirting with the idea? I think he'd been gone from the game for 10 years at that time