Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction April 2024
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2024
One third of the famed “Hanson Brothers” that became fan favourites in the 1977 hockey movie “Slap Shot”, Jeff Carlson would play professional hockey in a variety of minor league circuits between 1973 and 1982, reaching his playing peak with a total of seven (7) games as a member of the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the WHA during the 1975-76 season, in which he recorded an assist as well as fourteen (14) penalty minutes. Offered here, we present this Minnesota Fighting Saints jersey worn by Jeff during his short stint with the team. A heavy weight durene knit offering made by Rawlings that was lettered by local Minnesota company Steichens, the jersey is void of any tagging affixed to the inner collar but the outlines of their former placement are still able to be made out rather clearly. Originally worn by Danny O’Shea during the 1974-75 campaign and then recycled into the next season due to the cash strapped Saints trying to save money, the front of the bright blue garment is decorated with a Fighting Saints team crest in layered tackle twill that features beautiful chain-stitched embroidered details throughout. Styled over the sleeves and verso with Carlson’s number “22” in dual layer yellow-over-white tackle twill numerals, "J. Carlson" is spelt out in single layer white twill letters across the affixed blue twill nameplate at the top of the reverse. Of note, there is no evidence of alterations to the numbers on sleeves and reverse or to the team's crest and there is evidence of a former, shorter former nameplate, under the current one, likely from when the jersey was worn by O’Shea the year prior. Still sporting its original loop style fight strap on the interior and with the white parts of the jersey having become discoloured/yellow over time, the garment displays game-use in the form of a couple of light stick marks over the lower front, there is an additional one through the bottom of the first “2” on the right sleeve while a team repair is present in the team crest as well. Also showing spot stains through the sleeves as well as the body on both sides that are heaviest in the numbers on the reverse and in the white stripes/collar, there are fabric runs/small holes over the right shoulder (x2) and top of the left elbow while the nameplate shows a bit of damage/tearing at the top edge between the “J” and “C”. Finally, there are a couple of holes just underneath the edge of the nameplate on the upper reverse presumably from when the team removed the old one, and near the left hip on the reverse which look like they may have been small team repairs at one time that have opened up again with time. Also, there is excellent pilling on the interior at both elbows. A beautiful example from the rough and tumble days of the rival league worn by a player with a cult like following for aficionados of “Old Time Hockey”, don’t miss out on this gem from a bygone era of the game for your all-important game-worn/vintage collection!
Additionally, Carlson can be seen in the video titled "WHA San Diego Mariners 2 Hours" on YouTube at the 57:30 mark in game footage taken on October 25th, 1975 wearing a Saints jersey with the same nameplate as what is seen on this one with the spacing of the letters and its placement as well as the placement of the numbers on the reverse appearing to match up with what is seen here. Having said that, the footage is not clear enough for us to call it a definitive match.
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