Jean Beliveau Foundation Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/11/2008
Desirable short-lived style of Ranger jersey was pulled on by Phil Esposito, one of hockey's most prolific goal scorers and most colorful personalities. After being part of one of the most lopsided trades of the 1960s (between the Bruins and Hawks), Espo was involved in one of the biggest blockbuster trades of the '70s when he and Carol Vadnais were acquired by the Rangers for Jean Ratelle, Brad Park and Joe Zanussi in November, 1975. Espo averaged over 35 goals during his five-plus seasons with the Blueshirts, reaching the lofty 700 career mark. Phil's captain's "C" in white tackle twill is sewn on the front here, along with the embroidered Rangers shield crest. Mesh jersey has Gerry Cosby, size 54 and washing instructions tags in the collar and a loop-style fight strap in the tail. "Esposito" in tackle twill is sewn onto a blue knit nameplate. Moderate game use is evidenced by a few good burns on the front, two of them resulting in side-by-side one-inch slices in the blue near the red stripe. Stick marks on the front and sleeves, a small hole above the "77" of the right sleeve and blue and red paint transfers are also to note. Although we know that the Rangers also wore mesh jerseys in the '77-78 playoffs (when they bowed out in three preliminary round games to the Sabres), we haven't been able to confirm that Esposito wore this particular shirt in the two games in Buffalo, although that is a possibility. Regardless, Ranger, jersey and Espo collectors will be intrigued and enticed by this seldom offered example, donned by a special Hall-of-Famer.
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