Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction November 2024
Wielded by Frank Mahovlich during his first full season in Motown as a member of the Detroit Red Wings, the line of Mahovlich along with Alex Delvecchio and Gordie Howe would form the third iteration of the "Production Line" and would go on to set a National Hockey League record of 114 goals by a single line during the season. A Northland Custom Pro model twig with "BIG M" stamped over the middle of the shaft, the stick retains Mahovlich's white and black tape job around the knob with black tape also covering the handle and blade as well. Also featuring additional stamps for both "Northland Skis" and "Olympic Sporting Goods Co." over both sides of the upper shaft, Mahovlich's number "27" is stamped in red over the upper shaft underneath the handle tape. Exhibiting good game-use via numerous dark marks throughout, heaviest over the lower shaft, heel and untaped sections of the blade, other various marks and abrasions are found throughout as well including small chips in the shaft and top edge of the blade as well as some wear to the underside of the blade near the heel and at the bottom part of the toe. Signed by Mahovlich over the forehand side of the shaft with a black marker ink signature that display well despite its age, the striping accent at the bottom of the shaft is still present and intact. Including a number of annotations penned over the topside of the shaft, one reads "1968-69 Frank Mahovlich - 78 Points (49 Goals - 27 Assists) - Ties Gordie Howe For Most Goals In One Season By A Red Wings Player" while the other reads "Power Line - Howe, Delvecchio and Mahovlich set N.H.L. Record Of 114 Goals By A Line In One Season". Penned in a mix of red and black coloured marker ink, don't miss out on this one for your all important collection!
A prolific behind the scenes historian of all things related to the City of Detroit, James Mackey would begin his professional career as a graphic designer after graduating from Wayne State University with a BA at 20 years of age. Soon finding himself at Channel 2 News in Motown by 1960, where his career spanned a tumultuous 42+ years, ending in 2002 with him retiring as Graphic Manager. Throughout that wonderfully rich career with Channel 2, he was fortunate enough to have won 4 Emmy Awards for set design. Beginning to photograph the Detroit Tigers and Lions as a correspondent for Channel 2 News around 1960 as well, he was hired as a freelance photographer by Olympia Entertainment in 1962, where he would spend the next 34 years procuring some of the greatest hockey moments to have been caught on film in Detroit Red Wings history and in the mid-1960s he would become the graphic artist & cartoonist for the Detroit Red Wings Magazine with multiple sections in each program including "In The Click Of It", "Red Wing Magazine" and "Sticks and Yuks by Mackey". Building many life long relationships with numerous Hockey Hall of Fame greats. Most notably, Gordie Howe, who even went as far to invite Jim to Pittsburgh for the opportunity to capture Gordie scoring his 700th goal, their relationship spanned their entire lives. Described by his son Eric with "He loved sports period", whether it was boat racing, lacrosse, baseball, football, hockey, Jim was there covering the event and capturing moments that will live on forever. As part of its current auction, Classic Auctions is proud to present some of the premier items from the collection of James A. Mackey.
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