Al Suomi
A Chicago candy company's marketing stunt launched this reluctant amateur into a brief, unforgettable stint in the NHL.
1913–2014 (age 101)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: October 29·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Al Suomi’s path to professional hockey was as unconventional as they come. Growing up in Chicago, he played the game purely for the love of it with his friends, never dreaming of a pro career. His break arrived through a bizarre corporate promotion: the Baby Ruth candy bar company sponsored a local team to market their product, and Suomi’s talent on that squad caught a scout’s eye. This led to a whirlwind 1936-37 season where he suited up for five games with the Chicago Black Hawks, making him one of the few players of his era to jump from a branded amateur team directly to the NHL. After his fleeting time in the big league, he returned to the minor circuits and later served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Suomi’s legacy is that of an accidental professional, a reminder that the league’s early days were filled with stories of raw talent discovered in the most unexpected places.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Al was born in 1913, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Al Was Born
The biggest hits of 1913
Al's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1913Born
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Started school
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1926Became a teenager
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1929Could drive
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1931Could vote
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Turned 21
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1943Turned 30
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1953Turned 40
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 50
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 60
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 70
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 80
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2014Died at 101
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
Key Achievements
- Played five games in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks during the 1936–37 season.
- Began his hockey career playing for the unique corporate-sponsored Chicago Baby Ruth team in 1934.
- Served in the United States Navy during World War II following his hockey career.
Did You Know?
He is recognized as the first NHL player of Finnish descent.
The Chicago Baby Ruth team he played for was created as a direct marketing tool by the Curtiss Candy Company.
He lived to be 100 years old, passing away in 2014.
“I just loved to play, and the game gave me a chance to see the world.”
