Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/8/2017
Arriving late for the New York Islanders early-1980s Stanley Cup dynasty, Pat LaFontaine was selected 3rd overall by the Long Islander’s in 1983, with the superstar first representing the US at the 1984 Olympic Games before joining the club as they made their ascent through the 1984 playoffs en route to an attempted 5th straight championship. 8 seasons would follow, with LaFontaine closing out the decade in New York before moving on to additional seasons with both the Sabres and crosstown Rangers.
We are pleased to be able to offer what is surely the greatest Pat LaFontaine jersey in existence, with this 1983-84 New York Islanders example worn by the St. Louis native in the 1984 Stanley Cup Finals during his rookie season, and it’s been signed and photo-matched! Currently void of tagging along the collar, an embroidered CCM crest (with asterisk) sits on the back bottom hem. Styled with the iconic Long Island team crest in tri-colour tackle twill, the blue V-neck has been accented with dual-colour sleeve and verso numbers, with “LaFontaine” across the nameplate in single twill.
Game-wear on the important Stanley Cup Finals worn rookie sweater includes a few marks on the lower front along with a stick mark over the team crest. There are also a few faint burns over each sleeve closer to the cuffs, with additional rubbing and paint transfer over the right shoulder along with some light fraying to the threading of the perimeter of the “6” on the reverse. LaFontaine has signed vertically within the “1” on verso, adding “16” within the “6”, with the signature displaying beautifully.
Regarding the previously mentioned photo-matches, numeric images will be included, with the first of the 1984 Stanley Cup Finals matched to the pair of diagonal marks on the right side of the number "6" on verso, and to a pair of small black marks on the lower portion of the "1" on verso. This image has also been matched to four loose threads on the bottom edge of the CCM patch on the back bottom hem. The second numeric image of the 1984 Stanley Cup Finals has been matched to the long black mark at the top right of the team crest in the white border, while the third numeric image has been matched to the larger white mark on the right shoulder, and to the faint mark above it. Next, the fourth numeric image of the 1984 Stanley Cup Finals has been matched to the pair of diagonal marks on the right side of the number "6" on verso, to the mark on the lower part of the same number, to the long loose blue thread in between the numbers, to a pair of small black marks on the lower portion of the "1" on verso, and finally, to a number of loose threads on the bottom edge of the CCM patch on the back bottom hem. Lastly, Getty Image #171191739 hails from Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals on May 19th 1984, and it’s been matched to the white marks on the right shoulder.
Upon his retirement in 1998, LaFontaine had seen action in over 900 games (including playoffs) with 1075 points to his credit – including 495 goals, with his 1.17 points per game (1,013 points over 865 regular season games) the best among American-born hockey players, active or retired. With 5 All-Star game selections throughout his career along with a Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 1994, Pat LaFontaine was rightfully enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 3rd, 2003.
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