Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction February 2024
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/20/2024
Seeing two decades of NHL action split amongst three different clubs, Bill Gadsby was a Stanley Cup finalist with Detroit, with election to the HOF occurring in 1970. The NHL’s all-time leading scorer for defenceman upon his retirement in 1966, Bill Gadsby saw action in over 1,200 contests with three different NHL clubs including the Red Wings, which would serve as the final stop on his National Hockey League journey. Offered here, we present this stick that is attributed to have been used by the reliable blue liner during his final NHL regular season contest on April 3rd, 1966 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. A Northland Pro Glass Fused model with "Gadsby" stamped to the shaft, his number "4" is penned to the upper shaft in faded red coloured marker ink while stamps for both Olympic Sporting Goods and Northland Ski Mfg Co. grace both sides of the stick's upper portion as well. Retaining its original black tape job over both the handle/knob and blade, three (3) black accent stripes are found over the lower shaft. Exhibiting good game-use via numerous dark marks throughout the entirety of the shaft, with the heaviest concentration in the heel area, many other marks and abrasions are observed throughout as well including a spot of red post paint transfer. Showing a crack/chip on the backside of the lower shaft along with a couple of other chips in the same area plus heel as well, wear is seen to the blade tape and along the bottom of the blade. Additionally, small cracks extending in towards the middle of the blade are present at the toe. Having had Gadsby's career games total of 1248 penned over the forehand side of the blade tape in white, Gadsby has signed the stick over the heel on the same side with a black marker ink signature that displays without issue and has added an annotation reading "Last Game Stick 1966" above it in matching ink and condition.
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