Historical Hockey Memorabilia Spring 2012
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/12/2012
From the historic hockey season that saw the incomparable Gordie Howe come out of retirement to join sons Mark and Marty as members of the World Hockey Association's Houston Aeros comes this exceptional championship ring, presented to Mr. Hockey after he led the Aeros to the WHA title in the spring of 1974. Actually, the elder Howe had led Houston throughout the fall and winter too, registering an even 100 points, which included 31 goals, pacing the Aeros to a 48-win, 101-point campaign, tops in the league. Never before had a father and son combination skated at such a high level of play, with 18-year old Mark contributing 38 goals and 79 points in his first year as a pro and Marty helping the defense/goalie corps to out-distance their rivals in the lowest goals-against-average department. Come playoff time, Houston swept past the Winnipeg Jets in four straight games and took out the Minnesota Fighting Saints in six, to reach the Avco Cup finals against the Chicago Cougars. The Aeros claimed their first of two consecutive Avco World Trophy championships by beating the Cougars 3-2 and 6-1 in Houston and then 7-4 and 6-2 in games played at the Randhurst Twin Ice Arena in Mt. Prospect, Illinois. Gordie, who would later be named winner of the Gary Davidson Trophy as regular season MVP, led all playoff scorers with 14 assists while contributing three goals and accumulating 34 penalty minutes! Yes, all this at age 46.
Commemorating the eventful season, this white gold and diamond creation was manufactured by "Star", a Texas company and whose name inscribed on the inside of the band features a star in the place of the "a" in "Star". Nearby is "10K" along with a circled "C". Three real diamonds join "World Hockey Association" around the Aeros team logo on the tableau, while "Howe" and "74 Champs" are one shank, along with a hockey player with "9"s on his shoulders. The opposite shank includes a raised image of the championship trophy, with "The Avco World Trophy" visible upon magnification and "Champions" above. Fantastic detail overall, including chiseling work above and below the tableau which does not appear on salesmen sample rings which were not made of gold and which had CZ stones. The ring is now approximately size 9-1/2 but evidence of re-sizing is in the different tone of a small metal strip in the band. The formidable award displays well, with numerous surface scratches and small edge dents visible, again, upon magnification. Originally owned by an iconic hockey legend who is in a class by himself, one of our sport's greatest ambassadors, this captivating treasure presents a unique opportunity and will be accompanied by a letter of authenticity signed by the one and only Gordie Howe. Phenomenal!
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