Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction April 2024
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2024
A member of the esteemed Conacher family that is firmly cemented in Canadian sporting lore, Brian Conacher would play his junior hockey with the OHA's Toronto Marlboros and play a total of 155 National Hockey League games split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, winning a Stanley Cup with the Maple Leafs in 1967. Also having represented Canada at the 1964 Winter Olympic Games, offered here is this WHA Ottawa Nationals jersey worn by Conacher during the 1972-73 season, his only year in the league with the same able to be said for the franchise itself. A durene knit garment made by Tricot Sport Maska, a partially detached brand label is affixed to the inner collar while the once attached washing instructions label has been lost to time. Measuring out to roughly a modern size "40" and featuring a classic style tie-neck collar, the front of the jersey has been decorated with a Nationals team crest in layered tackle twill while the sleeves and verso have had Conacher's number "20" sewn to them in dual layer white-over-blue tackle twill numerals. Having had "Conacher" spelt out in single layer white twill letters across the affixed red twill nameplate that is affixed across the top of the back, the jersey exhibits light-to-moderate game-wear in the form of stick marks over the front, reverse and both sleeves while board burns/scrapes are present over both sleeves as well. Displaying additional battle scars in the form of red coloured paint transfers over the lower reverse and both sleeves and a team repair on the bottom of the right sleeve, coloured dye transfers and rubbing are seen over the sleeves as well along with a team repair at the base of the collar. Finally, more stick marks are present over the shoulder and there is some light spot stains over the body and both sleeves that are worth mentioning for accuracy. Showing fraying around the elbows on the interior and pulling behind the numbers, a MeiGray LOA and COR will accompany the piece.
Instrumental to the hobby as one of the founders of the MeiGray Group in 1997, a hobby entity paramount in the authentication of game-worn jerseys and equipment, pioneer collector Barry Meisel enjoyed almost two decades as a successful sports journalist. Beginning with his days interning for the Binghamton Evening Press while a senior in college, Meisel explains how his passion for collecting was fueled, stating “My plan was to get a game-worn jersey for every team I covered once I became a pro hockey writer. I got a Barons, then a Broome Dusters, Binghamton Whalers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers. It was the late '80s. My first career was born. From the Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin to the Morristown, NJ, Daily Record, to the New York Daily News”.
In his dozen years with the New York Daily News, Meisel covered the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and New York Giants. He also spent the early-1990s serving as the News’ investigative sports reporter, with additional time as a columnist for The Hockey News (1982-90) and The New York Giants Newsweekly (1990-96), with a few book authored including 'Losing the Edge: The Rise and Fall of the Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers’. Despite building a vast and encompassing grouping of items, Meisel notes, "I have my favorites. The Scotty Press that still sits in my home office. My 1983-84 Detroit Red Wings Ken Holland, the minor-league goalie in Binghamton who became a lifelong friend, and who had a cup of NHL coffee before becoming a Hall of Fame General Manager. And my 1994 Stanley Cup Finals New York Rangers white Craig MacTavish, who was wearing this jersey in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden on June 14, 1994. MacT knocked the final faceoff into the corner with 1.6 seconds left on a 54-year Jinx, the night the Rangers allowed the Monster of MSG to one day Die in Peace. This jersey is on display at the Garden, to remind every Blue Seater from old Section 433 that the wait was worth it”.
Classic Auctions in honoured to have been chosen to sell the Barry Meisel personal collection, with dozens of high-quality jerseys offered including an endless supply of important New York Rangers specimens from Rod Gilbert, Peter Sundstrom, James Patrick, Mark Tinordi, Kris King and other Blueshirts as well as WHA jerseys from the Indianapolis Racers, Quebec Nordiques and Ottawa Nationals. Additional gems that will have bidders salivating includes Peter McDuff’s 1973-74 AHL Providence Reds game-worn home and away jerseys, bobble head dolls, important programs and other assorted memorabilia.
As always, we hope these long-loved treasures find new appreciative collectors, with Meisel stating it best, “It's time for Classic Collectibles and my good friend Marc Juteau to help me find my gamers new homes. Time for others to enjoy the greatest hobby alive."
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