Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2020
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2020
Interesting was the life of George Springate, with this lot indeed interesting and partly to do with the former NHL players who George “recruited” to help raise money for charities by playing in Oldtimer hockey games. Revealing contracts for such appearances signed by the likes of Beliveau, Lindsay (2), Mikita, Worsley, Mahovlich (3), Sittler and others are joined by cancelled cheques endorsed on the back, with Maurice Richard, Ken Dryden, Bobby Hull (2) and others joining that signing lineup – cool. Books signed by Dryden, Beliveau, Molson, Bronfman and others, photos of George in hockey gear, an autographed action shot of Springate and Beliveau and still more – there are numerous intriguing items, with more details and photos on our website.
Also signing one-page contracts from the early-1990s were Bill Gadsby, Paul Henderson (2), Dennis Hull (2), Ron Ellis, Jean Pronovost, Chico Resch and legendary Montreal Forum announcer Claude Mouton. Other than a $12! Ken Dryden-endorsed cheque from 1977, they’re from the late-‘80s and early-‘90s, with many of the aforementioned signers present, along with Serge Savard and Chris Nilan. Cheques to Gordie Howe and Norm Ullman are not endorsed. Ken Dryden’s autograph in 1983 inside his “The Game” is preceded by “To George, Most of this story you already know. I hope you like it” while Beliveau writes “To George. A dear old friend - Sincerely Jean Beliveau” on the cover page of “My Life in Hockey”, with Scotty Morrison’s signature in the NHL’s 75th Anniversary Commemorative Book accompanied by “To My Good Friend, George Springate. Best Wishes!” Other books signed on the interior are done so by Eric Molson (The Molson Family 1786-1986), Charles Bronfman and Howard Green (Distilled) and Bill Veeck (Veeck – as in wreck). The (8” x 10”) photo of Springate and Beliveau in action is professionally matted and framed to 13-1/2” by 15-1/2” with big Jean writing “To George - Always Trying – All the best” before applying a classic and classy perfect blue ink autograph. An original 8 by 10 that was blown-up to produce the framed image is present and the two are joined by John Ferguson in two similar-size posed photos prior to the same 1973 game at the Paul Sauvé Arena. George is posed in a different CJMS Radio uniform in three other photos. One-of-a-kind items are the enlarged/laminated signatures and thumbprints of Beliveau, Lafleur, Lemaire, Shutt, Larry Smith and Don Sweet that George obtained for a display of the Police Technology Department (that he co-founded) of John Abbott College and part of an Open House held at Fairview Shopping Centre. They measure 7-1/2” by 9-1/2”. Completing the nifty array are three hockey books, a Canadiens 100th Anniversary mint coin and stamp and a beauty like-new size XL Original 6 Old Time Hockey hoodie sweatshirt, with the hockey jersey-style quality garment featuring the Original Six era’s team logos on the back. A Letter of Authenticity from the Springate family will accompany this alluring and unique collection.
The George Springate Collection
Classic Auctions is pleased to offer the personal collection of George Springate. A native Montrealer, George had an amazingly diverse and storied life. Long-time Montreal Alouettes fans know him as the placekicker for the 1970 Grey-Cup-winning Als, while also serving as a Quebec MNA; others for his police, education and political careers.
A unique Canadian, George made impressive contributions to his community, province and country throughout his life, for which he received the Order of Canada among many other honours. A superb fundraiser, he raised millions of dollars for Canadian youth, as well as other charities. Of particular interest to sports enthusiasts/collectors is his more than 50 years of organizing charity events, most particularly the dozens of celebrity skate-a-thons and Oldtimers hockey games that produced scarce and sought-after souvenirs, many featured in this auction.
While a Montreal police officer, George acquired two law degrees and played football at McGill University, was a radio and television personality, and a law professor for 33 years, co-founding the Police Technology Department at John Abbott College. Later in life, he served as a Canadian citizenship judge for 14 years, the last five as Canada’s Senior Judge. Following his death in November 2019, a House of Commons tribute stated, in part: "George was larger than life. He was a friend to all. He touched our lives by his friendship and his philanthropic work, which benefitted so many wonderful causes and organizations." Indeed, what a life!
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