Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction - June 2009
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/16/2009
The luck of the Irish! Perhaps no single player had as big an effect on the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise than did Francis "King" Clancy. As a member of the roster, and then head coach, assistant manager and official "goodwill" ambassador, Clancy bled the royal blue and white and was a fixture in the old Maple Leaf Gardens until his passing in 1986. The Toronto Maple Leafs honored their beloved King with a special tribute held on St. Patrick's Day, 1934, celebrating his contributions to the team. In King's own words "They gave me the greatest tribute an individual could ever hope to get. I didn't do anything to deserve it. They must have said 'He's an Irishman, let's give him a night'". Clancy took to the ice on that memorable evening wearing this specially-created green wool uniform, complete with a heavy cream felt clover on the back in place of his lucky player number "7". According to coverage of the event, Lester Patrick of the visiting New York Rangers raised objections after the game commenced to Clancy wearing the sweater and he was forced to wear his blue and white uniform for the second and third periods. The ancient coarse-wool sweater displays the familiar felt and stitch-work 36-point Toronto Maple Leafs crest on the chest, but with uncommon green lettering forming the team name. Measuring 18 inches across the chest with a high-rise neck, the jersey is labeled in the lower seam with a Monarch Knit "All-Wool" tag. In well-preserved condition apart from two holes at the armpits and about ten smaller unrepaired holes that do not detract from the beauty of this scarce and historical find. Simply amazing! Saved and cherished by the King himself, this wonderful wool originates from his collection and will come with a letter of provenance from the family.
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