Wayne Gretzky Skips Hall Wait

After retiring from the NHL in 1999, Wayne Gretzky became the rare player whose Hall of Fame induction did not follow the usual three-year waiting period. On June 23, 1999, the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee approved him for immediate induction by reason of outstanding preeminence and skill, and he entered the Hall that November. He remains the most recent player to have that waiting period waived. In 2000, the NHL honored him further by retiring his jersey number 99 across the entire league.

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