Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction April 2024
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2024
Held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Edmonton Oilers joining the National Hockey League in 1979 and the 20th anniversary of their first Stanley Cup win in 1984. The 2003 Heritage Classic saw the Edmonton Oilers take on the Montreal Canadiens at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on November 22nd, 2003 before 57,167 people who had braved the bone chilling -18 °C temperatures that felt closer to -30 °C when you factored in the windchill. With the Canadiens defeating the Oilers by a score of 4-3 in the main nightcap event, it was what took place prior too that could be described as the real show stopper, with the Heritage Classic MegaStars contest taking place and having the Oilers represented by the best players from their 1980s dynasty, including Wayne Gretzky, and the Canadiens represented by players from their 1970s dynasty, led by Guy Lafleur, and a few members of the 1986 and 1993 championship squads. With the hometown legends defeating the alumni of the "Flying Frenchmen" by a score of 2-0 in a game that was played with two (2) 15-minute halves rather than three (3) 20-minute periods, offered here is this jersey worn by "The Great One", Wayne Gretzky during the 1st half of the legendary, star studded contest that has also been photo-matched!.
A classic throwback style blue Oilers jersey made by CCM, size "56" and "Elite Sportswear" tagging is affixed to the inner collar while a "CCM" logo patch has been added over the reverse hem alongside an embroidered NHL shield logo. Decorated over the front of the air-knit style garment with a familiar Oilers team crest that features embroidered details throughout, the distinguished captain's "C" has been added over the left breast while the NHL's "Vintage Series" program patch has been placed over the right breast as well. Accented over the sleeves and verso with Wayne's famous number "99" in stacked tri-layer tackle twill numerals, "Gretzky" is found spelt out in single layer white twill letters across the affixed matching nameplate at the top of the reverse. Signed by Gretzky with a fine black marker ink signature in the top of the first "9" on the reverse, the autograph displays well despite a light amount of fading from age. Customized for Wayne's use in a pair of ways like most of the jerseys that he wore during his storied career, a strip of velco has been hastily sewn inside the reverse hem above the "CCM" logo patch, so that he could tuck that side into his pants, and the fight strap has been cut out from the interior. Displaying with no obvious signs of game-use other than some stains over the lower front, left hip and lower reverse that were picked up during the contest, a "Heritage Classic - November 22, 2003 - Set #3" set tag is sewn inside the reverse hem alongside a MeiGray label that is numbered "B09926" that has had "Promotional Jersey" stamped over top of it. With the company's population report listing the garment as a "Blue MegaStars w/C - Worn in 1st Half of MegaStars Game 11/22/03 - Auctioned by NHL-MGG" offering, the jersey comes accompanied by both a matching MeiGray LOA and a Classic Auctions LOA as well along with numerous images of Gretzky during the contest.
Regarding the photo-match, the jersey is matched with Getty Image #2812385 (November 22nd, 2003 vs Montreal - Heritage Classic MegaStars Game) to the pair of stains present in the bottom white stripe over the lower front.
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