October Legends
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2013
On February 5, 1980 in Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena, Wayne Gretzky made his NHL All-Star debut the same night Gordie Howe made his final All-Star appearance. Howe had an assist and Gretzky went scoreless, but that didn’t dim the luster of two future Hall of Famers competing against each other, a rite of passing the “crown” of hockey’s king. Gretzky signed this official orange-black-white, 100% polyester size-50 1980 All-Star Game jersey boldly in silver Sharpie across the left-hand “9” on the back of the jersey, “Wayne Gretzky 99” (grade 9). The signature is #127 out of 299. The signature is authenticated by a “Wayne Gretzky Authentic 2000” hologram and COA (#053979). The jersey front bears the “NHL” crest, black with orange lettering and white trim. “Gretzky” is stitched across the upper back in white-trimmed-in-black lettering. No. “99” sits below the name, black numerals trimmed in white. The collar is black. A stitched “NHL” logo is sewn onto each shoulder. A stitched All-Star logo is sewn onto each upper breast. Each sleeve bears a black-trimmed-in-white “99,” along with two black stripes and white-trimmed-in-black star. The waistband bears to black stripes between which are three white-trimmed-in-black starts on front and back. On the rear lower waist is sewn a “V” with “NHL” stitched at the juncture (for “Vintage Hockey” apparel), and “Mitchell & Ness” stitched in white adjacent. The collar tags are cloth, with “Vintage Hockey, gold V on black background; and red embroidered “Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co.” scrawled across white-trimmed-in-gold tag. “Authentic 1980” is embroidered in white across a black tag. The game ticket has been torn along the perforation and is in good condition. The NHL shield logo is on the left-hand side. “Detroit Welcomes 32nd National Hockey League,” “Wales Conference vs. Campbell Conference” and “Joe Louis Arena – 600 Civic Center Drive” is printed in black. “ALL STAR GAME,” and “TUES. EVE. , FEB. 5, 1980 – 8:00 P.M.” are printed in orange. The ticket is for Section 22, Row 38, Seat 4. “$14.00” is the cost of the ticket. On the reverse, blank side is a signature signed boldly in blue ink by Buffalo right-wing, Danny Gare, who played for the Wales Conference team. Gare would lead the NHL in goals for the season, netting 56 for the Sabres.