Opening Day Auction 2014
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/26/2014
Even before his arrival in the National Hockey League, Sidney Crosby was being compared to his idol, "The Great One" Wayne Gretzky. Crosby was a superb skater, very fast, but was even a better puck handler, weaving his small but solid frame through multiple defensemen, scoring goals which made even long-tenured hockey fans shake their head in amazement.
Crosby was simply “The Next One”, next in a long line of very talented Canadian players. However, after dominating the juniors, and imparting his talent on the NHL, Crosby suffered a series of head blows, and a serious concussion which necessitated he sit idle for more than 10 months. With the long term affects of concussions, evidenced by issues within the National Football League, Crosby was patient to make sure his body told him when the time was right for a return.
When he was finally completely healthy, Crosby was the same player before the injury, scoring goals and creating scoring chances for his teammates. Most importantly, Crosby helped lead his team to the playoffs.
It was during the 2012-13 playoff run which saw Crosby dominate the first two series against the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators. Also, due to the shortened 2012-13 NHL season, the Pittsburgh Penguins issued only a single set of regular season jerseys, and a single set of playoff jerseys. This is the exact jersey Crosby wore for his seven 2012-13 playoff home games; including the May 17, 2013 game versus Ottawa which saw him score a hat trick by the 1:15 mark of the second period. In those seven games, Crosby scored six goals, helping lead the Penguins to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The jersey contains impeccable provenance, certified by the Jersey-Trak system of tracking game worn jerseys. Imbedded inside this jersey is a tamper-free RFID chip which time and date stamps the jersey when it is put on and removed. The Jersey-Trak chart accompanying this jersey lists each date, time, opponent and Inspector for when Crosby wore this jersey. It is the greatest advancement in verifying game worn jerseys, eliminating any hesitancy as to the authenticity of game worn items. The creator of this inspection process, Gleason Technology, also issues an LOA describing their process, with detailed background information.
In addition, the jersey comes with a COA from the Pittsburgh Penguins warranting “the jersey sold to Joe Tomon on Thursday, June 13, 2013 was game-used by the player noted below during the season.” Listed below is the player, “Sidney Crosby 87.” This COA is signed by Dana Heinze, Equipment Manager of the Penguins, who fully endorses the Jersey-Trak system.
Interestingly, the person who the COA states the jersey was sold to is a well-known collector and seller of game-worn hockey jerseys. Since 2001, Tomon has had an arrangement with the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins to purchase game jerseys, which he then sells through his J&J Distributing business.
Wear is clearly evident in the fabric of the black mesh gamer, as the team logo crest contains many abrasions, and there are various other scrapes and scuff marks throughout. Crosby’s captain's "C" is on the upper left shoulder and his name "CROSBY” on a black nameplate and his number “87" on reverse. His number also adorns each shoulder. All lettering and numbers are white, outlined in Penguin black and gold. The manufacturer’s Reebok size "56" label appears at interior collar, while interior rear tail holds Penguins equipment manager Dana Heinze's unique "Pro Knitwear" label, stating "Pittsburgh Penguins, 2012-2013 Playoff Game Jersey, Head Equipment Manager: Dana Heinze PPH#B12226213.”
This is the only 2012-13 Sidney Crosby playoff worn black home jersey, worn in every home game Crosby played, certified by JerseyTRAK Authentication.