Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction February 2025
The first National Hockey League game to be played in Latin America, the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers would play a pre-season game in the small unincorporated territory of the United States on September 23rd, 2006 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, with the Rangers coming out on top by a 3-2 score. With the Rangers wearing a special set of jerseys for that game specifically that featured a Puerto Rico flag patch over the right shoulder, offered here is this Rangers jersey worn during the historical contest by Rangers defenseman Fedor Tyutin. A Reebok made offering that features a lone size "58" label affixed to the inner collar, the classic tie-neck style garment sports an NHL shield crest sewn on over the reverse hem while a Reebok patch appears over the reverse neckline. Decorated over the front with "Rangers" doing diagonally down the chest in drop-shadow red-over-white tackle twill letters that have been individually sewn on, the previously mentioned Puerto Rico flag patch still rests atop of the left shoulder. Styled over the sleeves and verso with Tyutin's number "51" in matching style dual layer red-over-white drop-shadow numerals, "Tyutin" is spelt out in matching style letters that have been heat pressed on over an affixed matching arched nameplate at the top of the reverse, something the Rangers do on all their pre-season jerseys. Displaying just light game-wear via a couple of tiny board burns over the sleeves and a small stick mark over the reverse hem, the interior of the jersey retains its fight strap as well as a MeiGray tag numbered "D11146" sewn inside the reverse hem. Listed on the company's Population Report as being a "Blue w/ Puerto Rico Inaugural Game Patch - 9/23/06" example, the jersey comes accompanied by a matching MeiGray LOA.
Instrumental to the hobby as one of the founders of the MeiGray Group in 1997, a hobby entity paramount in the authentication of game-worn jerseys and equipment, pioneer collector Barry Meisel enjoyed almost two decades as a successful sports journalist. Beginning with his days interning for the Binghamton Evening Press while a senior in college, Meisel explains how his passion for collecting was fueled, stating “My plan was to get a game-worn jersey for every team I covered once I became a pro hockey writer. I got a Barons, then a Broome Dusters, Binghamton Whalers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers. It was the late '80s. My first career was born. From the Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin to the Morristown, NJ, Daily Record, to the New York Daily News”.
In his dozen years with the New York Daily News, Meisel covered the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and New York Giants. He also spent the early-1990s serving as the News’ investigative sports reporter, with additional time as a columnist for The Hockey News (1982-90) and The New York Giants Newsweekly (1990-96), with a few book authored including 'Losing the Edge: The Rise and Fall of the Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers’. Despite building a vast and encompassing grouping of items, Meisel notes, "I have my favorites. The Scotty Press that still sits in my home office. My 1983-84 Detroit Red Wings Ken Holland, the minor-league goalie in Binghamton who became a lifelong friend, and who had a cup of NHL coffee before becoming a Hall of Fame General Manager. And my 1994 Stanley Cup Finals New York Rangers white Craig MacTavish, who was wearing this jersey in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden on June 14, 1994. MacT knocked the final faceoff into the corner with 1.6 seconds left on a 54-year Jinx, the night the Rangers allowed the Monster of MSG to one day Die in Peace. This jersey is on display at the Garden, to remind every Blue Seater from old Section 433 that the wait was worth it”.
Classic Auctions in honoured to have been chosen to sell the Barry Meisel personal collection, with dozens of high-quality jerseys offered including an endless supply of important New York Rangers specimens from Rod Gilbert, Peter Sundstrom, James Patrick, Mark Tinordi, Kris King and other Blueshirts as well as WHA jerseys from the Indianapolis Racers, Quebec Nordiques and Ottawa Nationals. Additional gems that will have bidders salivating includes Peter McDuff’s 1973-74 AHL Providence Reds game-worn home and away jerseys, bobble head dolls, important programs and other assorted memorabilia.
As always, we hope these long-loved treasures find new appreciative collectors, with Meisel stating it best, “It's time for Classic Collectibles and my good friend Marc Juteau to help me find my gamers new homes. Time for others to enjoy the greatest hobby alive."
By clicking this button, you will IMMEDIATELY bid the amount selected.
By clicking this button, you will submit this amount as your MAXIMUM (absentee) bid. The auction software will place bids on your behalf up to this amount only as it is bid against competitively by other bidder(s).