Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction Fall 2022
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/20/2022
Leading the New York Rangers in scoring from 1968 to 1973 as a member of the noted GAG Line along with Vic Hadfield and Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle thrilled MSG fans for parts of 16 seasons, scoring almost a-point-a-game throughout his career while earning a pair of Lady Byng trophies. The Quebec native also represented Canada at the famed Summit Series in 1972. From the Barry Meisel collection, we have a photo-matched Rangers jersey worn by the gentlemanly player in 1974-75.
Gerry Cosby labeling is affixed to the collar along with a size “46” swatch. Featuring “Rangers” diagonally across the chest in individual drop-shadow tackle twill, “19” is sewn to the sleeves and verso in matching material, with six-eyelet configuration on tie-neck construction. The fight strap has been cut and removed. Worn during the first half of his final full season with the Blueshirts, nice game-use is shown with material pulls and scrapes to the front, with a small tear at the waist. There are also a few puck and stick marks to the left sleeve and blue paint transfer near the right cuff. Some minor pilling to the interior and single team repair to the lower right sleeve round out the condition issues.
An included image has been matched to the placement of the “T” and first “E” of “RATELLE”, with each placed slightly higher on the upper reverse. An LOA and COR will accompany from MeiGray. Worn by a true Blueshirts legend at the conclusion of his lengthy and successful stay in the Big Apple, the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats ranked Ratelle at No. 7 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons. Please take note that this item might be subject to a silent reserve.
Instrumental to the hobby as one of the founders of the MeiGray Group in 1997, a hobby entity paramount in the authentication of game-worn jerseys and equipment, pioneer collector Barry Meisel enjoyed almost two decades as a successful sports journalist. Beginning with his days interning for the Binghamton Evening Press while a senior in college, Meisel explains how his passion for collecting was fueled, stating “My plan was to get a game-worn jersey for every team I covered once I became a pro hockey writer. I got a Barons, then a Broome Dusters, Binghamton Whalers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers. It was the late '80s. My first career was born. From the Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin to the Morristown, NJ, Daily Record, to the New York Daily News”.
In his dozen years with the New York Daily News, Meisel covered the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and New York Giants. He also spent the early-1990s serving as the News’ investigative sports reporter, with additional time as a columnist for The Hockey News (1982-90) and The New York Giants Newsweekly (1990-96), with a few book authored including 'Losing the Edge: The Rise and Fall of the Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers’. Despite building a vast and encompassing grouping of items, Meisel notes, "I have my favorites. The Scotty Press that still sits in my home office. My 1983-84 Detroit Red Wings Ken Holland, the minor-league goalie in Binghamton who became a lifelong friend, and who had a cup of NHL coffee before becoming a Hall of Fame General Manager. And my 1994 Stanley Cup Finals New York Rangers white Craig MacTavish, who was wearing this jersey in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden on June 14, 1994. MacT knocked the final faceoff into the corner with 1.6 seconds left on a 54-year Jinx, the night the Rangers allowed the Monster of MSG to one day Die in Peace. This jersey is on display at the Garden, to remind every Blue Seater from old Section 433 that the wait was worth it”.
Classic Auctions in honoured to have been chosen to sell the Barry Meisel personal collection, with dozens of high-quality jerseys offered including an endless supply of important New York Rangers specimens from Marc Staal, Glen Hanlon, Mattieu Schneider (last MSG home game of the millennium) Kelly Hrudey and others, All-Star Game jerseys from Mark Messier, Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan, and inaugural season jerseys for the Quebec Nordiques, Chicago Cougars and Kansas City Scouts. The Meisel collection even boasts a rare single-season New York Golden Blades jersey! Additional gems that will have bidders salivating includes prominent lumber, with game-used sticks from HOF members Jean Ratelle, Billy Smith, Bryan Trottier and Igor Larionov, along with a tremendously rare copy of a 1946-47 New York Rangers media guide that predates the club’s first known Blue Book media guide.
As always, we hope these long-loved treasures find new appreciative collectors, with Meisel stating it best, “It's time for Classic Collectibles and my good friend Marc Juteau to help me find my gamers new homes. Time for others to enjoy the greatest hobby alive."
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