Wayne Gretzky did not retire prematurely; he played twenty full seasons in the National Hockey League, accumulating an unassailable mountain of records before hanging up his skates at age thirty-eight. By the spring of 1999, chronic back stiffness, accumulated physical wear and tear, and a desire to walk away from the game while still performing at a respectable level prompted his legendary farewell tour. He felt satisfied knowing he had achieved every possible milestone and wanted to preserve his health for life after hockey.