Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction April 2024
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2024
A product of IF Bjorkloven in his home country of Sweden, Peter Sundstrom would be drafted 50th overall by the New York Rangers at the 1981 NHL Entry Draft and go on to play a total of 335 games in the National Hockey League, playing them with the Rangers as well as the Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils. Also having represented Sweden on numerous occasions throughout his career, including at the 1984 and 1987 Canada Cups and 1987 IIHF World Championship when Sweden won the gold medal, offered here is this Rangers jersey worn by Sundstrom during the mid-1980s, in either the 1984-85 or 1985-86 seasons of play. A heavyweight mesh construction offering made by Stall and Dean, size "56", Gerry Cosby and washing instructions labeling is all affixed to the inner collar while the interior of the garment sports its original loop style fight strap. Decorated over the front of the jersey with "Rangers" going diagonally down the chest in dual layer blue-over-red drop-shadow tackle twill letters, the sleeves and verso of the garment, now no longer a crisp white due to numerous washes and wears, have been styled with Sundstrom's number "25" in matching style numbers while "Sundstrom" is spelt out, once again in matching style letters, that have been sewn directly to the material of the jersey at the top of the back. Exhibiting excellent game-wear throughout its entirety, stick marks are observed throughout the front, reverse and both sleeves, board burns are also present over the lower reverse and both sleeves as well. Sporting additional battle scars in the form of 40+ team repairs throughout the body and sleeves, red coloured board paint transfer marks exist over the reverse hem and both sleeves while pilling is present on the interior. 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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