Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction June 2025
Sadly passing from a heart attack while competing in a Detroit Red Wings oldtimers match in 1972, George Gee was a standout winger in his playing days with the Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks during the height of the Original Six era. Scoring a competent 331 goals in 551 NHL matches, Gee would hoist Lord Stanley's Cup with the boys from Motor City in 1950. Wearing the #9 in 1947-48 before it's iconic status on the back of the immortal Bobby Hull, Gee would play in the Windy City from 1945-46 to 1948-49, and again from 1951-52 to 1953-54.
Widely considered one of the greatest jerseys in all of sports, the famous Indian head logo of the Chicago Black Hawks named after the famous Sauk nation Native American Black Hawk is still worn to honour his prominence in the history of Illinois. Seeing numerous changes in design until the current logo began use in 1955, sweaters from the preceding years are extremely rare and almost never surface. We are pleased to offer exactly that, with this 1947-48 Chicago Black Hawks #9 wool sweater with use attributed to George Gee.
Featuring a McNiece's Montreal label affixed to the collar and measuring-out to a slim 44, the thick team crest is constructed of layered felt including "Chicago Black Hawks" in individual, white felt letters. The "9" in thick white-over-red felt is sewn to the verso and remains fully affixed and void of any unsightly marks or wear. With a gorgeous striping design that descends the length of the jersey, the pattern is continued on the sleeves, with reinforced elbows utilized along with a solid red shoulder band. Surviving especially well with just honest period use exhibited, the prized garment has a clean team crest and still-bright colouration to the wool fabric throughout, with just a few areas of minor discolouration over the front and sleeves including beneath the team crest. There is also a few small holes, with numerous team repairs expertly sewn to the sleeves including clump of repairs over each elbow. Additional repairs are visible on the verso beneath the number, on the reverse left shoulder, the right front shoulder/sleeve seam, just above the left breast and over the middle front, with a small group of repairs on the right side of the lower front band.
We should also note that based on photos from the era, including individual players and team photos, this style of jersey would only have been worn in 1947-48, with the shoulders on the jersey matching those from the 1947-48 team photo. This differs in the 1946-47 and 1948-49 seasons. Additionally, the type of McNiece's tagging in the collar is the correct type for jerseys of the late-1940s. An absolute treasure of NHL history, and considering it's status as one of the most sought and collectable jersey styles along with it's historic #9, this preeminent specimen would fit nicely into any advanced Black Hawks, wool sweater or Original Six collection.
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