Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2022
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/2/2022
Wisely enlisting the services of the game’s all-time greatest for a lengthy period of 21 years, and absolutely paramount to the sport, serving as the document that announced his arrival on the professional scene, we offer Wayne Gretzky’s signed 1978-79 WHA rookie season contract from the genesis of his unmatched and unrivaled Hall of Fame career.
The standard "World Hockey Association Player's Contract" featuring a 21-year personal services deal with Peter Pocklington, three copies of the contract were originally produced, with The Great One signing on his 18th birthday (January 26, 1979). Drawn for nine consecutive seasons, beginning with the 1978-79 hockey season to and including the 1986-87 season, the option clauses on the contract's addendum gave the club the opportunity of renewing Gretzky's contract to a six-year option, for 1987-88 to 1992-93, and the option for the club to renew Gretzky's contract to another six-year option for 1993-94 to 1998-99. Earning a base salary of $100,000 for his first year in 1978-79, and climbing to $280,000 by 1982-83, the contract is comprised of two legal-size pages (printed recto/verso – four pages of text), and is signed on the last page by Gretzky, general manager L.D. Gordon and Walter Gretzky twice as witness. Wayne and Gordon initialed fourteen separate clauses on these pages, with Gordon initialing another as well.
The contract's attached addendum is comprised of three legal-size pages (printed recto only), signed on the last page by Wayne Gretzky, general manager L.D. Gordon, and Gretzky's agent Gus Badali as well Bruce MacGregor as witnesses. Also attached are six photocopied pages of the memorandum of agreement between Wayne Gretzky and Peter Pocklington, with the last page having the photocopied signatures of Gretzky and Pocklington.
Exhibiting handling wear and minor toning, there is some light spot staining/foxing over the bottom left corner of the contract, with an approx 6” cut to the first page (over the title image when folded), with all attached documents affixed by way of staple (there are additional staple holes visible). The Gretzky signature remains bold with no fading occurring. One of the most important hockey documents in existence, and registering as a cultural icon of our nation, inclusion within one of the world’s finest sporting collections is essential.
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