MARK HOWE - NEWSPAPER PHOTOGRAPH SIGNED - HFSID 311051

MARK HOWE
The Hall of Famer NHL and WHA defenseman signs his name in green on this 4¼x7½ image.
Newspaper photograph signed: "Mark/Howe", in green felt tip, B/w 3½x7¼ affixed to a 4¼x7½ card (2 surfaces). Mark Howe (b. 1955) is a retired NHL and WHA defenseman. He played for 6 seasons in the WHA with the Houston Aeros (1973-1977) and the New England Whalers (1977-1979). When the WHA collapsed in 1979, Howe moved to the NHL, moving along with his team the Whalers under their new franchise name, Hartford Whalers. He would play for 16 seasons in the NHL, playing for the Hartford Whalers (1979-1982), the Philidelphia Flyers (1982-1992), and the Detroit Red Wings (1992-1995). Hailing from a hockey family, Lowe began hockey at a young age, inspired by his father Gordie Howe, better known as Mr. Hockey. He played for the Detroit Red Wings junior league team, and at the age of 16, competed and earned silver at the 1972 Olympics, becoming the youngest hockey player ever to win an Olympic medal. A year later, he went to play in the WHA, with both his brother and father also competing in the league. After the collapse of the WHA, Howe moved to the NHL, having a successful career in the former league. It was during his time in the NHL that Howe suffered a memorable injury, impaling his leg onto a pointed metal center of one of the goal nets, causing the NHL to review the design of their nets. The injury affected Howe's career dramatically, causing him to lose a substantial amount of weight and reducing his stamina. He later recovered, though other injuries plagued his career, and he retired in 1995. Although he never managed to gain the elusive Stanley Cup, Howe's skills on the ice were definitely noticed, being inducted into both the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and the original Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada. Lightly toned. Lightly soiled. Ink note (unknown hand) on verso. Light surface creases. Otherwise, fine condition.