This is a true story, and although it may not seem like an aviation story, it does involve a chance encounter with one of the greatest hockey players of all time. A few years ago, before I retired from working for the airline, I was on break and standing outside at ground level at Terminal 1 in Toronto. It was there that I met the legendary Bobby Hull.
Let me take you back in time to when I was a kid growing up in downtown Toronto, specifically in the Ossington & Harbord area. As a young boy, I was a huge fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs and would bleed blue and white. I knew all the players’ names, their stats, and even had the Eddie Shack record “Clear the Track, Here Comes Shack.” I idolized players like the Big M Frank Mahovolich, Bobby Baun, Tim Horton, Johnny Bower, etc. My friends and I would play ball hockey in the laneway behind our house, pretending to be those players.
Even though I was a die-hard Leafs fan, there was one player who stood out above the rest and captured my imagination – that player was Bobby Hull, also known as “The Golden Jet.” I remember one day, my friends and I were listening to the radio and they announced that some NHL stars, including Bobby Hull, would be visiting Christie Pitts for a charity appearance. Christie Pitts was a big park on Bloor Street and it even had an Olympic-size swimming pool. The Toronto Maple Leafs inter county baseball minor league team also played there.
We were so excited that we made our way to the park on the day of the event. We stood in a very long line just to get a glimpse of our idols, but after several hours, we were almost at the front of the line and the MC announced that the event was over. We were devastated and I was so disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to meet Bobby Hull or get his autograph.
Fast forward to present day, and I have worked in the airline business for over 30 years. During my career, I have seen many celebrities, famous movie stars, politicians, and sports figures go through the airport, but I never asked for an autograph from any of them. That’s just the way I was. But now, going back to the beginning of this story, I was standing outside at ground level having a cigarette, and who comes towards me but the Golden Jet himself – Bobby Hull. I couldn’t believe it. I was in shock and couldn’t move. He called out to me, and all of a sudden, my childhood came flooding back to me – how close I was to meeting him and getting that autograph all those years ago.
He stopped in front of me and asked where he could get a taxi. After I got my senses back, I replied, “Oh, you’re on the wrong level. You have to go up one level to the arrivals section. The taxis and limos are parked there.” He thanked me and walked away, but I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. I called out to him, “Mr. Hull, can I ask for a small favor?” He turned around and said, “Sure, but just call me Bobby.”
I told him my whole story from my childhood and finally asked him for an autograph. He stood there patiently and listened to me, and then said, “That’s an incredible story. Of course, I’ll sign it. It would be an honor.” And that’s how I got the one and only autograph from Bobby Hull. He signed it, “To Little Mikey, it’s been 50 years. Was it worth the wait for an autograph? Your truly, The Jet Bobby Hull!” Damn right it was!
As I watched him walk away, I knew that this moment would stay with me forever. I had waited for 50 years to get an autograph from Bobby Hull, and it was worth every single second of the wait. I had finally fulfilled a childhood dream, and it was a moment that I will always treasure.
