Maurice "The Rocket" Richard

(1921-2000)

The Rockets' stats from hockeydb.com

I picked up this beautiful autographed 8x10 of The Rocket on eBay. No letter of authenticity, but the sellers' description is reasonable. I know there are a lot of fake autographs on eBay, but regardless, I really love this pic.

Here's Bob's description : " This is a CUSTOM LAB, BLACK & WHITE 8.5 X 10.5 image of Maurice "Rocket" Richard coming toward the camera doing a "PR" shot for The Montreal Canadiens! This is NOT one of the stock photos that you see of this image. I purchased this photograph directly from an agency in Canada who had the original black and white transparency. This was printed from that transparency on Kodak Electronic Imaging paper! YOU WILL NOT FIND A HIGHER QUALITY PRINT OF THIS IMAGE!!! It does have a white border which you can serve as another mat color! Or, you may choose to mat the photo without compromising any of the image (as the mat can come right up to the image!). I obtained this autograph IN PERSON during what was one of his LAST AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS in Mundelein, Illinois at "The St. Louis Sports Collectors Show," yes, in Illinois! (The scan has been reduced to save on file space -- considerably nicer in real life!). I attended that show and had the pleasure of meeting him. I conveyed to him how my friend, Pierre Turgeon, told me that "The Rocket" was like GOD in Canada. A MODEST Maurice Richard scoffed saying "I don't know that I would go that far." For all practical purposes, in hockey circles, Maurice "Rocket" Richard was GOD in Canada! He played his ENTIRE CAREER for The Montreal Canadiens. In 18 seasons with "The Habs" he played in 978 regular season games, scored 544 goals and assisted on 421 others! He WON 8 STANLEY CUPS and was a "50/50" goal scorer. The Rocket signed this one with my new, extra-fine point LIQUID SILVER paint pen at this very show!!"