In 1986, the most famous ditch day of all time happened in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. As the titular teen Ferris Bueller romps around Chicago landmarks while playing hooky from high school with his girlfriend, also along for the ride is Ferris' depressive best friend Cameron, who is inexplicably wearing a Detroit Red Wings jersey in Blackhawks territory:
Turns out, Red Wings legend Gordie Howe personally sent that jersey to be used in the film. In a 2009 interview with Sports Illustrated's Arash Markazi, Howe told Markazi that he sent producers the jersey at their request. "It was nice seeing the No. 9 on the big screen," Howe said. "I had a lot of proud moments in that jersey."
Howe died Friday in Ohio at the age of 88, after several years of declining health. He is survived by his four children.