Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction September 2023
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/19/2023
Acquired by the St Louis Blues in a trade with the New York Rangers on November 29th 1967 during the club’s inaugural NHL season, Red Berenson would spend 8 seasons in the city dubbed the "Gateway to the West", captaining the squad in 1970-71 and again in 1977-78. One of the newly minted West Division's first real stars, it was with the Blues where Berenson would experience a breakout, leading St. Louis to three straight Stanley Cup finals and being named the division's best player by his peers in The Sporting News' annual poll each of those years. Offered here, we present this photo-matched St. Louis Blues jersey donned by Berenson during the club's inaugural season of 1967-68. Most likely the first jersey he wore for St. Louis, the Rawlings made durene garment displays both a Rawlings size "46" and a washing instructions tag sewn alongside each other inside the reverse hem while the front is decorated with a familiar St. Louis team crest fully administered in layered tackle twill with chain stitched details. Accented over both the sleeves and verso with Berenson's number "7" in matching material, it should be noted that the tagging and square shoulders date the garment to the inaugural season, with this first set of jerseys having Rawlings tagging over a shorter white hem, as opposed to the examples worn in the Stanley Cup Finals which had a longer white hem and were tagged in the collar by Wilson (the manufacturer) and Giesler-Jorgen Sporting Goods Co., out of Clayton, Mo (the customizer). An LOA signed by Berenson from the original sale will accompany the piece.
In terms of wear, A few large stick marks and blood stains are present over the lower front and left sleeve, with additional marks over the right sleeve. Blood stains are also visible over the lower reverse, near a small team repair and a couple of small holes while coloured paint transfers decorate both sleeves as well. Additionally, light pilling is present on the void of a fight strap interior, as are sweat stains. Regarding the photo-match, Getty Image #81446983, an image taken by famed Sports Illustrated photographer, James Drake, on January 14th, 1968 during a game against the Chicago Black Hawks, shows Berenson defending against Bobby Hull with the stick mark under the team crest on the front clearly visible.
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