Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction February 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2018
A product of hard-living farm life on the unforgiving Canadian prairies at the turn of the century, Eddie Shore first developed as a forward playing for hometown hopefuls as well as the Regina Capitals in 1925. The legendary tough guy was then moved back to the blueline while playing a single season with Edmonton, where he earned the moniker “The Edmonton Express”. With a reputation and penchant for rough and violent play, Art Ross put the rookie to the test when Shore first skated with the Bruins, enlisting notorious bone crushers Sprague Cleghorn and Billy Coutu to see what the Saskatchewan farm boy was made of, with an injured Coutu the result along with Eddie needing to have his almost-severed ear sewn back on. Parts of fourteen seasons in Beantown would follow for the HOFer, with a pair of Stanley Cups won along with four Hart Memorials as the league’s unquestioned MVP – an accomplishment achieved by no other defenceman in NHL history.
Well known historically as the catalyst of the 1934 Ace Bailey benefit game that would be recognized as the first “All-Star” event in the NHL, Shore would also factor into the third benefit game to be organized that decade – with the unfortunate drowning of NHL superstar Babe Siebert - with this contest the first to have the players chosen by the Canadian Press. Occurring before the start of the 1939-40 NHL season on Oct 29th, the Babe Siebert Memorial Game featured the selected “All-Stars” led by Shore and Busher Jackson, taking on Siebert’s Montreal Canadiens in front of over 6000 at the Montreal Forum, with the stars topping the Habs 5-2. Hailing from that historically important event, we are absolutely thrilled to be able to offer Eddie Shore’s Babe Siebert Memorial Game NHL All-Stars wool sweater. Measured out to roughly a size 46, a label from longtime Montreal supplier McNiece’s is affixed to the inside seam, with no additional tagging present. Featuring what appears to be a thin layer of leather layered over black felt in the shape of a star over the chest for the team crest, with the letters and numbers for “N.H.L. ALL STARS 1939” cut away, the vintage wool also sports Shore’s famous “2” on the reverse, in matching black leather over black felt. Orange and black collar, cuffs and lower hem striping bands – the official colours of the NHL – have also been utilized, with the colours bright and vibrant. The important garment also sports a few faint marks and small holes mostly along the reverse, and survives in especially pleasing condition, absolutely ideal for prominent display.
Regarding the paramount provenance, Shore only saw action in four Bruins games in 1939-40 before being traded to the New York Americans for Eddie Wiseman and $5,000. Skating in just 10 games with the Amerks as his last hurrah, Shore then dedicated his time to the AHL's Springfield Indians, a team he purchased in 1939. Apparently, Shore left this very sweater in the Americans locker room upon leaving the team, at which point it became the possession of Team President Red Dutton. It was then presented to an NHL player as a gift by Dutton at some point, where it then entered the hobby after being sold by the player to a collector. The highest ranking pre-World War II player on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players, this museum quality wool should be regarded as one of the most important and desirable sweaters in the entire hobby. Please take note that this item may be subject to a silent reserve.
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