Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction November 2010
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/16/2010
The legendary Spalding logo is stamped on the heel of this incredible 19th century sports artifact. Circa 1880s wood stick was used to play ice polo, an American precursor of ice hockey. This beauty measures 41" from the tip of its curved blade to the top of the shaft. The Spalding trademark logo in the shape of a baseball is stamped in black at the bottom of the shaft of this one-piece rarity with a letter "B" stamped on the same side near the top of the shaft. Played with a round ball and a much shorter stick than those used in hockey, ice polo was a popular frozen pond game in the United States until ice hockey overtook it in the late 1800s and early part of the 20th century. The game was a favoured outdoor activity in New England among college athletes before ice hockey was imported from Canada and took root. This vintage ice polo stick with square edges is fully intact. To note are chips along both bottom edges of the blade and some stains and general soiling throughout the side of the shaft opposite the one which is stamped. Otherwise, this remarkable ice polo stick remains in excellent condition overall, particularly considering it is over 120 years old. Truly a museum-worthy piece, one which will surely interest a variety of hockey enthusiasts.
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