Chicago Black Hawks Retired Numbers

Just like many other NHL teams, a franchise will often retire a jersey number of a past player as part of respect to what that player has done for it’s team while it was part of it. The team will usually create commemorative banners featuring the players number and hang them at the teams home arena. Also out of respect another player will not use that number while playing with the team. Chicago is no different and has retired several numbers, the Chicago Black Hawks have Retired the following numbers:

(Number: Player, postion, years played)
1: Glenn Hall, G, 1957-67
3: Keith Magnuson, D, 1969-80
3: Pierre Pilote, D, 1955-68
9: Bobby Hull, LW, 1957-72
18: Denis Savard, C, 1980-90 & 1994-97
21: Stan Mikita, C, 1958-80
35: Tony Esposito, G, 1969-84

The first number that the Chicago Blackhawks retired was of Stan Mikita, his number 21 banner was celebrated on October 19, 1980. Mikita played all of his entire 22 year career with the Chicago Blackhawks, amassing a remarkable 541 goals, and 1,467 points. In just his second full season with the Blackhawks, he led the team in scoring throughout the playoffs and helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 1961.

Bobby Hull’s number 9 was the second one that the Blackhawk’s retired and raised to the rafters (on December 18, 1983). Hull is not only the greatest left wing in Chicago Blackhawk history, but he is arguably the best left wing in National Hockey League history. In, 1966, he became the first player in NHL history, to score more than 50 goals in one season and he reached the 50 or more goal plateau five times in his career. The “Golden Jet” has won the Art Ross Trophy three times, the Hart Trophy (MVP) twice  and also the Lady Byng (Sportsmanship) trophy.
 
On November 20, 1988, the Chicago Blackhawks retired Tony Esposito’s No. 35 along with Glenn Hall’s No. 1, in a ceremony honoring two of the greatest goalies in Blackhawk history. Esposito broke into the NHL during the 1968-69 season with the Montreal Canadiens. He appeared in 13 games with a 5-4-4 record and a 2.73 GAA. Hall set a record for endurance that may never be broken in the National Hockey League. He played 503 consecutive games as a goaltender and all without wearing a face mask.  

The Chicago Blackhawks retired the fifth jersey in team history on March 19, 1998, when Denis Savard’s familiar No. 18 sweater was raised to the rafters. Savard ranks fourth on the Blackhawks’ all-time goals scored list with 377 and ranks second on the Hawks’ all-time assist list with 719. Savard joins the likes of Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito as the only Blackhawks to have their number retired and to be selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

[info source: blackhawks.nhl.com]

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