Before Bob Probert or Tie Domi, there was Dave Schultz—the Broad Street Bully who redefined toughness in the NHL and helped lead the Flyers to their first Stanley Cup.
But his journey began far from the spotlight, growing up on a farm as a gentle kid who hated fighting.
Fame brought glory and pain; when the cheers faded, Schultz faced loss, addiction, and regret.
Hammered reveals the battles behind the legend—his struggles, his resilience, and the victories that made his name.
HAMMERED: The FIGHT OF MY LIFE
Written by Dave Schultz (Author), Dan Robson (Author), Bernie Parent (Foreword)
Schultz’s story is about more than hockey;
it’s about fighting on, no matter what.
The original Broad Street Bully has secrets to reveal. Before there was Bob Probert, Tie Domi, or Stu Grimson, there was Dave Schultz. The original enforcer changed the face of the NHL for decades to come and helped bring the Philadelphia Flyers their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, by scaring opponents into submission. His name was known and feared around the league—and still is. Schultz still draws long lines for his autograph.
That’s a long way to go for a kid who grew up on a farm with no indoor plumbing, a gentle kid who hated fighting. He calls himself a “chicken shit,” and admits he got his brother to fight for him until he was twenty.
But none of us leaves the past behind entirely. When the bright lights dimmed and the cheers went quiet, Schultz was left to grapple with the scale of all he’d lost. The money dwindled. Friendships faded. The lifeline of his marriage slipped from his hands. Finally, all that was left was the echo of fame, the booze, and the demons that shaped him into the fearsome fighter he became.
Still, not even haunted fighters like Schultz give up, and they never flinch—no matter how relentlessly life hammers away at them. Unafraid to look his demons in the eye, Schultz knew to keep swinging in the hope of some kind of victory. Maybe not the kind that brings thousands of cheering fans to their feet, but something deeper, braver, and more lasting.
Hammered takes readers to the places some of those demons come from and reveals challenges no one has ever suspected Schultz has fought through. It does not shy away from his regrets. But it also conjures the epic victories that made his name a synonym for toughness and intimidation, and makes clear that while he was down, the big guy was never out.
But none of us leaves the past behind entirely. When the bright lights dimmed and the cheers went quiet, Schultz was left to grapple with the scale of all he’d lost. The money dwindled. Friendships faded. The lifeline of his marriage slipped from his hands. Finally, all that was left was the echo of fame, the booze, and the demons that shaped him into the fearsome fighter he became.
Still, not even haunted fighters like Schultz give up, and they never flinch—no matter how relentlessly life hammers away at them. Unafraid to look his demons in the eye, Schultz knew to keep swinging in the hope of some kind of victory. Maybe not the kind that brings thousands of cheering fans to their feet, but something deeper, braver, and more lasting.
Hammered takes readers to the places some of those demons come from and reveals challenges no one has ever suspected Schultz has fought through. It does not shy away from his regrets. But it also conjures the epic victories that made his name a synonym for toughness and intimidation, and makes clear that while he was down, the big guy was never out.
““Hammered is Dave Schultz’s toughest act yet. His piercing memoir is about much more than hockey. Schultz reveals the unseen wounds he endured before, during, and after he became the NHL’s most feared legend. His raw honesty and surprising vulnerability are an inspiration to anyone who knows the toll of addiction and abuse—and the courage it takes to fight those demons.””
“Schultz’s unflinching self-portrait of his athletic afterlife recounts myriad tragic turns and captures the looming existential threats that face those who earned their living with their fists. It took bravery to the point of recklessness to drop the gloves hundreds of times, but his most courageous act will be telling his cautionary story.”
“Dave was a teammate who cared a lot. Cared about winning. Cared about your safety. Cared about working to make himself the best at his role. Off the ice, he was laidback and funny, a good friend. He’s had a lot of battles in his life, and some hard times. But he comes through them and wants to pass along what he’s learned so he can help others. I’m proud to call him my friend.”
“Dave played one of the hardest and most misunderstood roles in hockey. He did it like no one else before him. Schultzy was an important part of our success. Here’s the thing people didn’t understand: Dave fought for his teammates, not for himself. He wasn’t born to fight, but he’s a born fighter.”