The Great One … to a tea

Bigelow Tea has completed its sports-promotion grand slam by bringing on Wayne Gretzky as its newest sipping sports star.

“The Great One” has joined the team of Bigelow sports stars Joe Torre, Terry Francona and Phil Simms.

Cindi Bigelow, president of the family-owned and Fairfield-based Bigelow Tea Co., said as the embodiment of sports excellence and wholesome vitality, Wayne Gretzky is “a perfect fit” with the Bigelow Green Tea story.

Gretzky, who has played pro hockey for both Canadian and American teams, earned his title as The Great One by winning four National Hockey League championships, nine Hart Trophies, professional hockey’s MVP award and three NHL All-Star Game MVPs. Though he retired in 1999, Gretzky still holds 60 different NHL records. He is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the NHL and has been called “the greatest hockey player ever” by many sportswriters, players and coaches.

“It’s so incredibly exciting, and such an honor, to have a sports figure of Wayne’s magnitude as our spokesperson,” said Bigelow. “He is not only a true champion but a wonderful human being, humble, gentle and kind. When he visited our facility, he shook hands, signed autographs and took photos with everyone.”

Leading up to the announcement, the tea company used the Twitter social network system to hold a contest in which followers could guess the identity of the new spokesperson.

Bigelow said the company is launching a line of Gretzky Green Teas in Canada.