Early in his playing career, he was a feared player for his talent and toughness. In the 1987-88 season with the Red Wings, he recorded 29 goals, 33 assists, and a whopping 398 penalty minutes. All of those would be career highs. Unfortunately, he also had his share of issues as well. In 1989, he would be arrested for cocaine possession at the US/Canada border and would battle drug problems for the rest of his playing career.
I never got his autograph during his playing career, but his mood would vary from accommodating to down right hostile at the drop of a hat. In fact, according to Dave Sliepka, he gladly signed for one person hounding the Blackhawks at a hotel in Dallas in 2001. When a group of people ran up, however, he went ballistic and started cursing at them like a Chef in a dinner rush.
In January 2010. I decided to go and try to hound the Old Timers' Hockey challenge that was taking place at the Civic Center. I got all of my stuff together and noticed Probert was on the list. After reading what had happened in Dallas 9 years prior, I wasn't sure what to expect. I went against my better judgement and put six of his cards on a page. Waiting in the arena, I saw him walk through the door after putting out a cigarette. A friend of mine went up to him and signed a couple of items. Then when he took one look at binder, he noticed I had his 1988 O-Pee-Chee rookie at the top of the page. He asked if that was his rookie, and I told him yes, and he asked if he could have it, and I gladly gave it to him. He then signed the rest of my cards and was very chatty with me everyone there.
After the game I asked if he could sign a couple of more things for me. At first he looked like he didn't want to, but he recognized me (I was the only person at the game wearing a Joe Sakic Quebec Nordiques jersey) and remembered the rookie card I gave him and he had no problem with it. I then asked if he could take a picture with me. I had always wanted to get a picture of me and a well known fighter in a head lock and I asked if he would do it. And he said, "Sure, no problem," and he put his arm around my neck and my friend snapped the picture (seen below). I was hoping to get him to sign it when the Old-Timers tournament returned the following winter, but sadly I would never get that chance.
Rest in Peace Probie.
