Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction November 2024
Voted the greatest athlete in Boston history through a Boston Globe poll of New Englanders in 1975, Bobby Orr played as a forward until the age of ten, when his coach at the time felt his offensive skills best suited a rushing-defenseman and moved him back to the blue line. Receiving attention from the Bruins along with Toronto, Montreal and Detroit by age thirteen, Orr chose to sign with the club from Beantown in 1962 and reported to their junior club in Oshawa. With three more-than impressive seasons in Oshawa as a member of the Generals , Orr made his National Hockey League debut on October 19th 1966, and the rest as they say… is history. Despite only a dozen seasons played in the league, ten of which were in a Boston uniform while the other two were with the Chicago Black Hawks, Orr was able to garner a plethora of awards and records including eight James Norris Trophies, three Hart Memorial Trophies, a Calder Memorial Trophy and a pair of Conn Smythe Trophies just to name a few. Adding a pair of Stanley Cups to his impressive resume in 1970 and 1972, which the first off his winning goal that resulted in one of the most famous hockey photographs in history, Orr would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979 at the unheard-of age of thirty-one and also suited up with Team Canada at the 1976 Canada Cup, where he earned Most Valuable Player honours for the tournament.
Coming off a 1972-73 season that saw Orr post 101 points in only 63 games played, earning him third (3rd) straight Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's MVP and fifth (5th) straight James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league's best defenceman, Orr would continue his masterful ways the next year of 1973-74, once again breaking the one hundred point plateau by posting 122 points (32 goals and 90 assists) in seventy-four (74) games played to earn his sixth (6th) straight James Norris Memorial Trophy and help the Bruins to an appearance in the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers. Offered here, we proudly present this photo-matched jersey worn by Orr during masterful 1973-74 season.
A heavyweight durene knit offering made by Wilson, a brand label displaying both washing instructions and a size "50" designation (the correct size for Orr's game-worn jerseys of that era) is affixed to the inner collar, which has had "74" penned over it in black marker ink that is now partially washed out due to age and numerous washings. Our research shows that both "73" and "74" notations were penned over the Wilson labels that year, with "73" possibly indicating a set #1 jersey while "74" possibly indicates a set #2 jersey. Decorated over the front of the garment with Boston's familiar spoked "B" team crest that has been administered in a layered tackle twill style, matching Bruins 50th anniversary patches have been added atop of both shoulders and are original to the piece. Styled over the sleeves and verso with Orr's famous number "4" in dual layer black-over-yellow tackle twill numerals, the black layer has been outlined with a white thread layer to give the appearance of another layer of twill underneath it. Displaying a matching style alternate captain's "A" over the left breast, it is worth noting that there are no signs of alterations to the numbers on sleeves or reverse, to the team's crest over the front or to the alternate captain's "A" over the left breast. Additionally, evidence of a nameplate is seen over the upper reverse on both the interior and exterior, applied for television games and then removed afterwards.
Moving on to the game-wear that the jersey showcases, the jersey displays with dark stick marks over the lower front as well as the left sleeve, left shoulder, right sleeve and right shoulder. Also sporting board burns over both sleeves as well as faint red coloured board paint transfer marks in the areas directly over both elbows, the sleeves also feature rubbing/fraying from Orr's gloves over the forearm and cuff areas of each as well. With a large red board paint transfer present over the lower reverse above the right hip area, another is present directly over the right side of hem as well. In terms of team repairs, a pair of neatly done bullet style repairs are found over the front, one (1) directly to the right side of the collar and one (1) between roughly nine (9) and ten (10) o'clock at the right side of the team crest. For the rest of the repairs, one (1) is found over the left sleeve at the bottom of the yellow stripe directly under the "4" while the right sleeve displays a pair also, one (1) to the side of the elbow and another on the inside of the sleeve near the armpit. On the interior, which retains a double-garter style fight strap, good pilling and stretch marks are found above the elbows of both sleeves while the front and reverse display pilling and stretch marks of a smaller quantity as well. Furthermore, puckering is present behind the team crest, behind the numbers on both the sleeves and verso, behind the 50th anniversary patches over the shoulders and behind the alternate captain's "A" as well. With the front of the jersey also showcasing blood stains that are easily seen, our consignor recalls that Orr had suffered a cut lip in a game just before and/or during the game that they acquired the jersey at.
Accompanied by an LOA signed by our consignor, Patrick Schmautz, who's uncle was Bobby Schmautz, Bobby was acquired by the Bruins from the Vancouver Canucks on February 7th 1974. A young Patrick was with his uncle Bobby after the game the jersey was acquired at, which was handed directly to Patrick at the time by Orr.
Regarding the photo-matches, the first (1st) match is to an image from the 1973-74 season which shows the now mostly washed-out series of black marks over the left front shoulder area. The image also shows the high placement of the team's crest over the front and the correct placement of the alternate captain's "A". Lastly, the image also shows that the lower left hem is kind of folding over, with this visible on the actual jersey itself.
For the second (2nd) match, the jersey is photo-matched to an image from the 1973-74 season taken during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers which shows the two large spots of white sewing threads on the lower left portion of the left elbow. This image also shows the correct placement of the "4" over the left sleeve and of the 50th anniversary patch as well as the former placement of the nameplate. You can also notice on the image the team repair at the junction of the upper yellow stripe and the black stripe on the left sleeve is visible with a small portion of the junction showing unevenly at the same spot as were the team repair is located. Additionally, showing is the previously mentioned folding over of the hem which is visible on the actual jersey itself. Based on our research, this would be from the game on January 10th, 1974.
For the third (3rd) match, the jersey is photo-matched to an image from the 1973-74 season taken during a game against the Black Hawks which shows the correct placement of the "4" over the left sleeve as well as the 50th anniversary patch. Additionally, showing is the previously mentioned folding over of the hem which is visible on the actual jersey itself. Based on our research, this would from the game on January 27th, 1974.
For the fourth (4th) match, the jersey is photo-matched to an image from the 1973-74 season which shows the correct high placement of the team's crest over the front and the correct placement of the alternate captain's "A" as well. This image also shows a portion of the mostly washed-out series of black marks over the left front shoulder area which are referred to in photo-match number one (1). This image also shows a big black mark in the lower white stripe of the right sleeve with clear evidence of a now washed-out mark in that same spot on the actual jersey itself.
For the fifth (5th) match, the jersey is photo-matched to an image from the 1973-74 season taken during a game against the Flyers (same sequence of images as photo-match #2) which clearly shows the placement of the now removed nameplate as well the placement of the number "4" over the reverse in correlation with the former nameplate. This image also shows the correct placement of the number "4" on the left sleeve as well as the placement of the 50th anniversary patch. Based on our research, this would from the game on January 27th, 1974.
For the sixth (6th) and final match, the jersey is photo-matched to an image from the 1973-74 season which shows the large black mark in the lower white stripe of the right sleeve as referred to in photo-match number four (4), which also clearly shows the placement of the now removed nameplate as well to the placement of the number "4" over the reverse in correlation with the former nameplate.
With our research showing that Orr wore at least two (2) white home jerseys during the 1973-74 season; the offered example and a previously sold example by Classic, it is also worth noting that the jersey has been team-signed by twenty-two (22) members of the 1974-75 Boston Bruins via black marker ink signatures over the reverse that all display well despite their age. Those that have signed the back of the highly desirable shirt include; Don Cherry (coach), Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Johnny Bucyk, Gregg Sheppard, Carol Vadnais, Ken Hodge, Don Marcotte, Bobby Schmautz, Andre Savard, Terry O'Reilly, Wayne Cashman, Dave Forbes, Dallas Smith, Al Sims, Hank Nowak, Darryl Edestrand, Earl Anderson, Gilles Gilbert, Ken Broderick, Ross Brooks and Gary Doak. Of note, Nowak and Anderson were acquired by the Bruins mid way through the season on February 1st, 1975. A fantastic jersey worn by the game's all-time greatest defenseman, don't miss out on this important piece of hockey history for your all-important collection!
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