Before Gordie, Mark and Marty, there was Syd. Unrelated, Syd Howe played in the National Hockey League from 1929-30 to 1945-46. Like Gordie Howe, Syd’s best days were spent with the Detroit Red Wings. In fact, the two appeared on the same roster at the end of Syd’s career and the start of Gordie’s.
The Hockey Cards
Howe came along during the no-man’s land of hockey card production. However, he did get on cardboard. There are two cards from 1933-34 that are considered Syd Howe rookie cards. The 1933-34 Ice Kings V357 #72 is the highest valued of the two. Beckett has the Ice Kings hockey card pegged at $400.
The set consists of 72 cards and is a complete collection is valued at a staggering $15,000. The highlight of the set is the hockey card of Howie Morenz which is valued at $2,000. The Howe card is an uncorrected error card (UER) as his first name is spelled Sid, instead of Syd.
The 1933-34 O-Pee-Chee V304A #24 is also considered the Syd Howe rookie card. This card is valued slightly lower at $350. The V304A set consists of 48 cards a complete collection is valued at the same as the Ice Kings set, $15,000. And, just like the Ice Kings set, Howie Morenz highlights with a card valued at $2,500.
The Player
The first five years of Howe’s career are a tour through a long forgotten era in NHL hockey. Syd played his rookie season with the Ottawa Senators before moving on to the Philadelphia Quakers for the 1930-31 season. This was the only season for the Quakers, relocated from Pittsburgh where they were known as the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In 1931-32, Syd played his only three games with the Toronto Maple Leafs while playing most of the season in the IHL with the Syracuse Stars. The Stars were in their second year of existence and would become the Buffalo Bisons for the 1940-41 season.
Howe found his way back to the Ottawa Senators for 1932-33, finding steady employment with the club until that franchise uprooted and headed to St. Louis, Missouri for the 1934-35 season. Like the Quakers, the St. Louis Eagles would last just one season in the NHL. Syd started his 1934-35 season with the Eagles but was shipped mid-season to the Detroit Red Wings.
He remained a Red Wing until 1945-46, winning three Stanley Cup championships with the club. Detroit won two consecutive championships in 1935-36 and 1936-37. In the first year, the Red Wings beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in the finals, three games to one. The following year, it was the New York Rangers that fell victim to Detroit, three games to two. In 1942-43, Howe got his third ring as the Red Wings swept the Boston Bruins in the best of seven final series.
At the time of his retirement, Howe was the last remaining active player that had played for the Philadelphia Quakers. He was also the last remaining player from the Ottawa Senators. Syd is still one of just eight players in NHL history to score 6 or more goals in a game. Howie Morenz is the only player to score seven. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1965. Syd Howe passed away in 1976.
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1929-30 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1930-31 | Philadelphia Quakers | NHL | 44 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 20 |
| 1931-32 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1931-32 | Syracuse Stars | IHL | — | 9 | 12 | 21 | 44 |
| 1932-33 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 48 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 17 |
| 1933-34 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 41 | 13 | 7 | 20 | 18 |
| 1934-35 | St. Louis Eagles | NHL | 36 | 14 | 13 | 27 | 23 |
| 1934-35 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 14 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 11 |
| 1935-36 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 48 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 26 |
| 1936-37 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 42 | 17 | 10 | 27 | 10 |
| 1937-38 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 47 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 14 |
| 1938-39 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 48 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 11 |
| 1939-40 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 48 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 17 |
| 1940-41 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 48 | 20 | 24 | 44 | 8 |
| 1941-42 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 48 | 16 | 19 | 35 | 6 |
| 1942-43 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 50 | 20 | 35 | 55 | 10 |
| 1943-44 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 46 | 32 | 28 | 60 | 6 |
| 1944-45 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 46 | 17 | 36 | 53 | 6 |
| 1945-46 | Indianapolis Capitals | AHL | 14 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 0 |
| 1945-46 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 26 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 9 |
| 1946-47 | Ottawa Senators | QSHL | 24 | 19 | 21 | 40 | 4 |
| NHL Totals | 697 | 237 | 291 | 528 | 212 |