Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction November 2024
Playing his junior hockey as as a member of the St. Michael's Majors in the Ontario Hockey Association, Gerry Cheevers would help the club to a Memorial Cup championship in 1961 over the Edmonton Oil Kings. Turning pro the next season and getting his first taste of action through a pair of games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Cheevers would go on to play a total of 419 games in the National Hockey League over the course of his professional career with the Leafs and Boston Bruins, helping the crew from Beantown to a pair of Stanley Cup championships during the 1970s in both 1970 and 1972 respectively. Also playing a total of 191 games in the rival World Hockey Association as a member of the Cleveland Crusaders and suiting up for Team Canada at the 1974 Summit Series against the Soviet Union, Cheevers would be named to the 1969 NHL All-Star Game, the only one (1) of his career, and be inducted into the hallowed halls of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.
Jumping ship to the WHA and serving as the starting netminder of the Cleveland Crusaders between 1972-73 and part way through the 1975-76 campaign, on January 26th, 1976 it was announced that Cheevers would be retiring from the World Hockey Association due to a financial dispute with Crusaders general manager, Jack Vivian. Just a few days later on February 3rd, 1976, it was announced that Cheevers had resigned with his former National Hockey League club, the Boston Bruins, and just five (5) days later, Cheevers would find himself back in the Bruins net, backstopping the B's to a landslide 7-0 shutout victory over their "Original Six" rivals, the Detroit Red Wings.
Offered here, we present this Boston Bruins jersey worn by Cheevers in his return to the NHL during the 1975-76 season, including during his 7-0 shutout victory over the Red Wings in his first game back in the league on January 8th, 1976. A heavyweight durene knit offering made by Wilson, a brand label displaying washing instructions but void of a size designation is affixed to the inner collar while a quick check shows that the jersey measures out to roughly a size "54". Decorated over the front of the jersey with Boston's familiar spoked "B" team crest that has been administered in a layered tackle twill style, it is worth noting that the jersey is void of the Massachusetts Bicentennial patches that are usually seen over the shoulders and shows no evidence of ever having had them sewn on. Additionally, in images of his first game back with the Bruins on January 8th, 1976, Cheevers can be seen wearing a number "31" jersey (his previously worn number "30" was being worn by Dave Reece) that does not have the Bi-Centennial patches over the shoulders while the rest of the Bruins have them on their jerseys. Styled over the sleeves and verso with the number "31" that was worn by Cheevers upon his return to the NHL in dual layer black-over-yellow tackle twill numerals, with the black layer outlined with an embroidered white border, no nameplate appears over the upper reverse with no evidence of one ever having been applied. Featuring the remains of a dual garter style fight strap that has been cut out of the interior, it is worth noting that Cheevers goes back to wear the number "30" at home on March 20th, 1976 against the New York Rangers and is seen wearing a jersey with the number "31" and Bi-Centennial patches on March 11th, 1976 vs Toronto. It is unknown if Cheevers was wearing the Bi-Centennial patched number "31" jersey on March 7th, 1976 vs the Washington Capitals or the jersey that is being offered here as we could find no photos from that game.
Showing game-wear via some rubbing/fraying at each cuff from rubbing up against gloves and a couple of light puck marks over the front, blood staining is seen over the front of the desirable sweater as well though we could find no information of Cheevers being hurt/cut in games that he wore this one meaning it mostly likely occurred when the jersey was recycled in some capacity by the club later on, which would also explain the number of team repairs that grace the reverse hem.
Additionally, in the seven (7) photos that we have of Cheevers in that first game back on January 8th, 1976, the images show the correct placement of the team crest on the front and correct placement of the numbers on the sleeves and back.
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