Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Spring 2021
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/30/2021
Originally donned by the Montreal Canadiens player to score the first goal at the Bell Centre in 1996, Brian Savage wore this Canadiens jersey during the late-1990s, and it is photo-matched to the 1997-98 season. Hailing from the Habs 1997-98 set, the jersey was later recycled for Jozef Balej’s use at training camp and/or during the pre-season in the early-2000s (Balej was drafted by Montreal in 2000, and spent 2002-03 and 2003-04 with the Canadiens affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs, and appeared in 4 regular-season games for Montreal in 2003-04). A Starter Center Ice label is affixed to the collar along with embroidered NHL and Starter crests on the reverse hem, with the garment measuring-out to roughly a size 54. Styled with the most famous team crest in hockey, “49” appears over the sleeves and verso in white-over-blue tackle twill, with “Balej” across the affixed nameplate in single white twill. There is evidence of the former “Savage” nameplate, with the spacing correct for six letters. Exhibiting heavy game use, there are a number of puck and stick marks visible along with burns, scrapes, material pulls and minor staining, with considerable pilling to the interior. Team repairs are also present - with examples over the front and left sleeve/shoulder, as well as a number of slits including a larger specimen near the team crest. Getty Image #53132581 (Jan 8, 1998) appears to show the team repair on the left shoulder, including the exact placement, while Getty Image #385737 (Dec 30, 1997) has been matched to the team repair visible on the lower left sleeve, with the image showing the exact placement in correlation to the white striping band. The dark marks on the reverse hem are also visible, with the examples on the offered specimen likely faint from repeated washings.
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