You'll Never Guess What The Very First Retired Professional Sports Number Was
Irvine "Ace" Bailey began playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1926-27 season when he tallied 15 goals and 13 assists in 42 games played (via Hockey DB). He quickly became one of the top players for the Maple Leafs, leading them in scoring in both the 1928-29 and 1929-30 seasons as well as scoring the game-winning goal in the 1932 Stanley Cup finals (via The Hockey Writers).
Bailey's career continued on successfully until part-way through his eighth season for the Maple Leafs. In a December 1933 game against the Boston Bruins, Bailey's career was cut short following a hit he received from Bruins' defenseman Eddie Shore (via The Hockey Writers). Helmets weren't required to be worn by the NHL until the 1979-80 season (via ESPN), so a helmetless Bailey fractured his skull after hitting the ice following the Shore check. On top of the skull fracture, Bailey suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and fell into a coma for 10 days, according to the Toronto Star. Bailey did eventually make a full recovery. However, the tragic injuries were so severe that he was never able to play hockey again. A few months after Bailey's final game the Maple Leafs found a way to honor him.
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