Letter to the Editor: Messier, Hull, Pepitone among other great bald athletes Eighinger forgot

April 22, 2024 | By Jay Draudt

While Bobby Hull was in the World Hockey Association, he had his hairpiece pulled off in a melee by Dave Hanson of the Birmingham Bulls. Hanson went on to a starring role in the movie "Slapshot." | Photo courtesy of Reddit

Thought you might tell Mr. Eighinger that of the great bald athletes he mentioned, he forgot Mark Messier, who is one of the greatest hockey players of all-time. In fact, (Wayne) Gretzky won a Stanley Cups with Messier but none without him.

Also going the other way about players who tried to cover it up, Doug Mohns — who was bald — started wearing a helmet to cover it up. Then on his Topps and O-Pee-Chee hockey cards, he began wearing a hairpiece.

Also while Bobby Hull was in the World Hockey Association, he had his hairpiece pulled off in a melee by Dave Hanson of the Birmingham Bulls — which was a no-no. Hanson received seven minutes in penalties for his effort. Of course, he played Jack Hanson of the Hanson Brothers in the greatest sports movie ever, “Slapshot.” Hull then went on to get hair plugs.

Don’t forget Joe Pepitone, who might have been the first athlete to wear a hairpiece while playing.

Jay Draudt
Hannibal, Missouri