Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction April 2024
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2024
A product of the OHA's St. Catharines Black Hawks, Peter McDuffe would play a total of fifty-seven (57) games in his National Hockey League career, getting a taste of NHL play in 1971-72 as a member of the St. Louis Blues before going on to suit up for the New York Rangers, Kansas City Scouts and Detroit Red Wings as well as the WHA's Indianapolis Racers. Named the Central Hockey League's Most Valuable Player for the 1970-71 season and the Western Hockey League's Leading Goaltender the following year, offered here is this AHL Providence Reds jersey worn by McDuffe while playing for the club in 1973-74. A durene knit construction garment featuring a design similar to that of the team's NHL parent club, the New York Rangers, a Gerry Cosby label has been affixed to the inner collar along with the bottom half of a Wilson label, with the jersey itself measuring out to roughly a modern size "52". A classic tie-neck style jersey that is decorated over the front with a Reds team crest that features embroidered details, the sleeves and verso have been styled with McDuffe's number "1" in dual layer blue-over-red tackle twill numerals. Void of a fight strap on the interior or a nameplate over the upper reverse, the jersey displays with good game-wear including puck marks over the front and both sleeves, red paint transfer marks over the front, discolouration/paint transfers at both elbows, heavy pilling from McDuffe's goalie gloves at each cuff, discolouration to the twill numbers from numerous washings, damage to the striping accents on both sides of the neck, unrepaired small holes and fabric runs on the lower front and over the left elbow, a couple of small stick/board burns/scrapes over front and sleeves, small spot stains and finally, pilling on the interior. Also showing some discolouration/yellowing to the white areas from numerous washes and wears, the jersey comes accompanied by a MeiGray LOA and COR.
Instrumental to the hobby as one of the founders of the MeiGray Group in 1997, a hobby entity paramount in the authentication of game-worn jerseys and equipment, pioneer collector Barry Meisel enjoyed almost two decades as a successful sports journalist. Beginning with his days interning for the Binghamton Evening Press while a senior in college, Meisel explains how his passion for collecting was fueled, stating “My plan was to get a game-worn jersey for every team I covered once I became a pro hockey writer. I got a Barons, then a Broome Dusters, Binghamton Whalers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers. It was the late '80s. My first career was born. From the Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin to the Morristown, NJ, Daily Record, to the New York Daily News”.
In his dozen years with the New York Daily News, Meisel covered the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and New York Giants. He also spent the early-1990s serving as the News’ investigative sports reporter, with additional time as a columnist for The Hockey News (1982-90) and The New York Giants Newsweekly (1990-96), with a few book authored including 'Losing the Edge: The Rise and Fall of the Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers’. Despite building a vast and encompassing grouping of items, Meisel notes, "I have my favorites. The Scotty Press that still sits in my home office. My 1983-84 Detroit Red Wings Ken Holland, the minor-league goalie in Binghamton who became a lifelong friend, and who had a cup of NHL coffee before becoming a Hall of Fame General Manager. And my 1994 Stanley Cup Finals New York Rangers white Craig MacTavish, who was wearing this jersey in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden on June 14, 1994. MacT knocked the final faceoff into the corner with 1.6 seconds left on a 54-year Jinx, the night the Rangers allowed the Monster of MSG to one day Die in Peace. This jersey is on display at the Garden, to remind every Blue Seater from old Section 433 that the wait was worth it”.
Classic Auctions in honoured to have been chosen to sell the Barry Meisel personal collection, with dozens of high-quality jerseys offered including an endless supply of important New York Rangers specimens from Rod Gilbert, Peter Sundstrom, James Patrick, Mark Tinordi, Kris King and other Blueshirts as well as WHA jerseys from the Indianapolis Racers, Quebec Nordiques and Ottawa Nationals. Additional gems that will have bidders salivating includes Peter McDuff’s 1973-74 AHL Providence Reds game-worn home and away jerseys, bobble head dolls, important programs and other assorted memorabilia.
As always, we hope these long-loved treasures find new appreciative collectors, with Meisel stating it best, “It's time for Classic Collectibles and my good friend Marc Juteau to help me find my gamers new homes. Time for others to enjoy the greatest hobby alive."
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