Mark Recchi One of Few Athletes Remaining From That '80s Show

by David Steele

Filed under: Bruins

WASHINGTON -- As Mark Recchi headed into the Verizon Center dressing room after a morning skate the day of an early season game against the Capitals, a Boston Bruins teammate slapped him on the shoulder and said: "How's it going, Recchin'-Ball?''

Just as quickly the player disappeared through a door, so it was difficult to tell whether that teammate was one of the two Bruins on the roster who was born after Recchi's first NHL game on November 16, 1988.

The longer the 42-year-old Recchi plays, the longer the list grows of ways he is unique in the NHL -- and in all of sports. Only one other current NHL player, Mike Modano, suited up in the decade of the 1980s. The two others in the Big Four sports include Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer, who hasn't appeared in a game since July and, although he plans to return next season, is still recovering from an injured pitching elbow; and Omar Vizquel, who began his career with the Mariners in 1989 and played for the White Sox this past season.

Being the last remnant in team sports from the days of big hair and parachute pants was not something Recchi had either expected or even aspired to when he debuted, as a fourth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

 

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