Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction February 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2018
The winner of an especially impressive seven James Norris Trophies as the league’s best defenceman – bested only by the eight won by Bobby Orr – Doug Harvey saw over a quarter-century of professional hockey, with the Montreal native considered by many to be one of the greatest blueliners of all-time. We have a pair of skates worn by the superstar during his time with les Canadiens during the mid-to-late-1950s, along with his license plate, a printing plate and a 1966-67 contract. A detailed letter of provenance from our consignor (see online for a thorough elaboration) explains that these were purchased from Joe Gorman and son, who owned the Connaught raceway rail car that Harvey lived in. CCM combos with Tackleberry boots and Prolite blades, the 11 2/3-sized skates feature a painted white “2” over each outer customized ankle support, with worn labels along the top of each support. Considerable use is instantly apparent, with heavy wear to the leather throughout including numerous cuts and slices to the toe sections, with additional heavy wear to the blades along with some minor rusting. Detailed letters will accompany both the skates and Harvey-owned license plate.
Dated to the 1950s period while Harvey was with the Habs, photographic evidence shows the use of these model skates during this period, with no plastic guards over the top section of each blade, while later photos – including his time with the Rangers, Blues and in the AHL – show Harvey using skates with plastic guards over the back of the blades. A few high resolution photos we could find of Harvey with the Rangers showed either the plastic guard on the back of the skates (as shown on November 1st 1962 Getty Image #81412933) or a different model of skates.
Regarding the provenance, Harvey worked and lived at the Connaught Raceway during the 1980s as a security guard and handyman, with the racetrack then owned by TP Gorman’s son Joe. When Doug passed in 1989, both the skates and license plate were found by the Gorman’s in the railway car Harvey lived in, with our consignor purchasing these items directly from Joe Gorman and his son Mike.
The license plate hails from Ontario in 1973, with a number of “NHL 002”, with this plate specifically mentioned in The Doug Harvey Story on page 17 (a copy will accompany). The printing plate originates from circa 1963-64 while Harvey was with the Aces. Measuring 5 ½” x 8 ½” and produced by Revere, the plate remains complete and in very good condition. Lastly, the contract is a Standard Player’s Contract for the Pittsburgh Hockey Club for the 1966-67 NHL season, calling for Doug to earn $11,000.00 plus bonuses, and it remains in beautiful condition, with a signature present from the individual representing Pittsburgh (not signed by Harvey).
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