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Come to Play. A prodigy from the backwoods of Ontario, Hull signed his first pro contract at 14 (for a bonus so small that "I'm ashamed to mention it now"), cracked the big leagues in 1957 at 18. Since then, he has led the N.H.L. three times in goal scoring, twice in total points (goals and assists). The marks of his trade show on his face; it is crosshatched with scars, and his two front teeth are gone. But Hull has missed only eight games in his career because of injury. He scored eight goals in the 1963 Stanley Cup playoffs despite a shattered nose and cheekbone, and his manners are practically faultless: so far this season, he has spent only 16 min. in the penalty box.
"Bobby just loves to play this game," says Black Hawks Coach Billy Reay. "He can't get enough of it." Last week against Boston, Hull was on ice a full 35 min.—playing left wing on one Black Hawks line, filling in for an injured teammate at right wing on another line, substituting on power plays when Boston had a man in the penalty box, serving on the Hawks' own special penalty-killing squad. Said Bobby afterward: "I could have gone some more."