On March 12, 1972, the Detroit Red Wings retired Gordie Howe’s uniform number (9). After sitting out two seasons, he came out of retirement to play with his sons Mark and Marty on the WHA’s Houston Aeros for four seasons, the WHA’s New England Whalers for two seasons, and the redubbed Hartford Whalers for one more season in the NHL (after four WHA teams merged into the NHL). He retired again at the conclusion of the 1979-1980 season at age 52.