Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2019
Suffering 15 broken noses during his career, having an eye knocked out of its socket and almost needing a tracheotomy once from a shot to the throat, goaltender Don Simmons is the epitome of the tough men that used to make up the game of hockey. Noteworthy as the first netminder to regularly wear facial protection after its introduction by Jacques Plante in 1959, we have an early style fiberglass mask that hails from the Simmons family, with this one of four offered that was used by Simmons in games and/or practices during the 1960s. At 9” from top to bottom, the somewhat thin mask features a square-cut mouth, nasal openings and rectangular-shaped eye sockets, with a black strip of paint across the eyes almost simulating a Lone Ranger mask. Void of any strapping, the remnants of interior padding outlining the cheek sections remain, with glue residue left from padding that once sat over the forehead. An LOA from the Simmons family will accompany.
Possibly used with any of the teams Simmons played for during the 1960s including Boston, Toronto or the Rangers in the NHL, Providence, Rochester, Baltimore or Buffalo in the AHL, or even Vancouver (WHL) or Tulsa (CPHL), the mask survives in beautiful displayable condition, with heavy toning to the fiberglass showing its age. Just a few small and faint marks are visible, with a very small chip to the fiberglass at the top of the bridge of the nose.
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