The Elmer Lach Auction - October 2006
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/24/2006
A tingly, heart-pulsating and pulse-quickening feeling it always is to handle a Bobby Orr game worn Bruins jersey, with this one bringing those feelings to an exhilarating new height! As far as game use goes, this Orr gamer worn “on the road” by the young phenom throughout the 1968-69 season is by far the best ever offered, falling into the jaw-dropping “hammered” category. The photo matches we have uncovered for this gem are numerous and it is a two-inch black stick mark just above the right spoke in the Bruins crest that comes up time and again in photos. Meanwhile, the outline of a removed alternate captain’s “A”, the top of which is covered up by an inch-square team repair brings forth an intriguing story. Some may not recall that Bobby wore the “A” as early as 1968, but our research has uncovered proof of that; an article from The Hockey News reveals that Ted Green was out with an injury early in the season and that the team named other assistants, including Orr. A program from October 11, 1968, lists Bobby as an alternate captain, although at a home game at Boston Garden. Tie-neck style jersey features a Wilson company tag in the neck with no evidence of a size ever being penned into the blank box designed for that purpose. Not a big fan of fight straps, Bobby’s apparent garter-style strap which was sewn up high, in the small triangular section within the “4” on the back, was snipped out. As for the multiple team repairs, here goes: The front features a dime-size repair just below and to the right of the Bruins crest, two more similar size jobs in the white and gold waist stripes and a series of stitch jobs which span a five-inch vertical section through the waist striping near the right seam. An inch by half-inch rectangular repair is above that area and stitching to a five-inch area runs along the hem near the left seam. The right and left sleeves are a fine mess with respectively four and three repairs, including a sizeable one on each. There are a couple of small repairs on the lower back while the gold of the right shoulder bar features a nearly square stitch job measuring an inch and a half. Other notables include a three-inch strip of red paint transfer in the white stripe on the back, in the right hip area, a two-inch circular stain just below and to the right of Bobby’s “4” on the back, and wear to the numbers on the sleeves and back. A few small light stains are visible on the front, beneath the Bruins tackle twill crest. Simply awesome is the thought of arguably hockey’s greatest player wearing this shirt for an entire season and of his opponents inflicting the hits and hooks and slashes which produced such wear, in an effort to slow hockey’s newest superstar. Now that we’ve raved about the jersey, how about a little about Orr. Bobby hit the 20-goal mark for the first time (21) in ‘68-69, set the record for most points by a defenceman (64) which he would shatter several times in years to come and claimed his second of eight consecutive Norris trophies. The Bruins set records for most goals (303) and penalty minutes (Bobby had a career-high 133) and formed their reputation as the Big, Bad Bruins. Things were really getting exciting in Boston thanks to Bobby, Phil and their buddies! As for the provenance of this exceptional jersey, it was originally obtained in 1972 by an employee of an Orr-owned restaurant who is related to our consignor. We believe you now have all the information necessary to inspire you to treat yourself to one of the most important pieces of hockey memorabilia to ever be offered for public sale. All that remains to be said is........good luck. A LOA will be included.
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