Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction February 2024
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/20/2024
Playing his junior hockey as a member of the Oshawa Generals, Rick Middleton, who would affectionately become known among fans by his nickname "Nifty", would be selected both 14th overall by the New York Rangers at the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and 21st overall by the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft. Electing to go the route of the National Hockey League, Middleton would go on to play a total of 1005 games for both the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins and win a Canada Cup in 1984 as a member of Team Canada. A three (3) time NHL All-Star who would have his number "16" retired by the Bruins in 2018, offered here is this photo-matched Boston Bruins jersey worn by Middleton during the 1986-87 season. Made by CCM and void of any tagging affixed to the inner collar, the black and yellow coloured Ultrafil garment measures out to roughly a size "50". Having had a multicolored CCM logo embroidered into the reverse hem, the front of the jersey is decorated with a familiar Bruins spoked "B" team crest in layered tackle twill while matching alternate logo patches have been added over both shoulders. Displaying a distinguished alternate captain's "A" over the left breast with repairs and evidence of the once affixed captain's "C" observed underneath, Middleton's number "16" is sewn to the sleeves and verso in dual layer yellow-over-white tackle twill numerals while "Middleton" is spelt out in matching style across the affixed matching nameplate at the top of the back. Absolutely hammered throughout its entirety with game-wear, team repairs totaling approximately forty (40) by our count are found throughout the body and sleeves while stick marks grace the front, reverse and both sleeves as well. Showing additional battle scars in the form of board burns over both sleeves, pilling at the cuffs and a light blue coloured board paint transfer in the white stripe of the lower reverse, the original fight strap, which has had an "Ice Violence" inventory tag attached to it, is still present on the interior along with heavy pilling.
Regarding the aforementioned photo-matches, the jersey is matched with Getty Image #900377318 (November 24th, 1986 vs Toronto) to the small stick mark in the top yellow stripe of the left sleeve and with Getty Image #900377328 (November 24th, 1986 vs Toronto) to the unrepaired hole in the top yellow stripe on the reverse. Additionally, Middleton can be seen wearing the jersey on the front of his 1988-89 O-Pee-Chee hockey card, with the image matched to the stick marks through the "1" on the right sleeve and in the front crest.
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