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“Could Have Made My Life a Lot Better”: Before Clinching 4 Stanley Cups, Hockey GOAT Wayne Gretzky Was on the Cusp of Joining MLB, Revealed in 2015

Published 11/22/2022, 7:30 AM EST

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Wayne Gretzky is one of the greatest players to play NHL. In his 20-year career, he has played incredible hockey and improved the level of the game with his speed, intelligence, and reading the game. The GOAT of hockey had 894 goals and 1963 assists in his career of 1487 games.

Moreover, he has won four Stanley Cups for his team. In 2015, he revealed hockey wasn’t his favorite sport while growing up. If not hockey, what was his favorite sport? And why did he leave that sport and pursue hockey?

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Wayne Gretzky revealed why he chose hockey

There are two ways to follow a problem. One is to play practically while the other is to go with your heart. Wayne Gretzky chose to solve his problem practically and chose hockey over baseball. In 2015, Gretzky revealed during his childhood, he loved baseball even more than hockey. Then why did he choose hockey?

via Getty

In a segment called Nine Innings, Gretzky chatted with Shi Davidi. Davidi asked, “Did you play much ball growing up?” Gretzky answered, “Oh yeah, I played a lot of baseball. Every time I see Paul Beeston, he says he could have made my life a lot better and lot easier if I’d signed with the Blue Jays when I was 17.”

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“Was Making About $4 an Hour”: Before Landing His Maiden Multi-Million Dollar Contract, NHL Legend Wayne Gretzky Once Opened Up on His Childhood Struggles

Gretzky continued, “I love the game, I used to love and admire the game as much or more than even hockey when I was a kid. Unfortunately I wasn’t quite as good in baseball as I was in hockey.”

Gretzky is living his childhood dream through his son

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Parents try to give everything to their children. And sometimes children achieve what their parents dream of. Gretzky didn’t pursue baseball because he wasn’t as good at it when compared to hockey. But he is living his dream through his son, Trevor Gretzky. Trevor was born and grew up in California, where baseball is extremely popular. He got to play at high school and got trained by various good coaches as well.

via Getty

Even Wayne used to play a lot with him in his childhood and had immense fun. Wayne said, “We all live our lives vicariously through our kids, I know my dad lived through my life, and I live through my kids’ lives.” And now, Trevor is a pro baseball player and is looking to make it big in the game he and his father enjoyed. 

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Watch this story: From Being an Ice Hockey Fan to Hunting Brock Lesnar’s Favorite Hobbies Outside WWE

Even though he liked baseball more than hockey, he had the sense that he has got the natural ability to play hockey better. Henceforth, he chose to pursue a career in hockey rather than baseball. What would you have done if you were in his place?

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Written by:

Kaivalya R Pillai

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Dr. Kaivalya R Pillai is a US Sports author working at EssentiallySports. An accomplished academician, he recently completed his doctorate degree in pharmacy.
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Edited by:

Simar Singh Wadhwa