More than 25 years ago, before shattering any scoring records or winning any Stanley Cups, Wayne Gretzky was a bit self-conscious about his image.

After a set of hockey cards were shown to Edmonton Oilers players prior to the 1981-82 season, Gretzky requested that his photo - featuring the legend with a messy mullet and an awkward smile - be retaken.

The producer of the cards, Don Clarke of Edmonton, granted Gretzky's request and ordered that all of the cards be destroyed, but not before keeping a few for himself.

"I, for one, grabbed a couple," Clarke admitted to CBC. "Why? I don't know, just wanted a keepsake or whatever have you.

"How many actually got destroyed? I never thought about it at the time," he continued. "Some of them got out, but the majority, by far the majority of them, were destroyed."

Gretzky's photo was retaken after he got a haircut, but, thankfully, Clarke kept evidence of the original for us to enjoy.

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