Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction April 2024
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2024
A veteran of 318 National Hockey League games after playing college hockey with the Michigan State University Spartans in the NCAA and being drafted 123rd overall by the Winnipeg Jets at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, Danton Cole would suit up for the Jets as well as Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks, winning the lone Stanley Cup of his career with New Jersey in 1995. An NCAA National Champion in 1986, offered here is this Devils jersey worn by Cole during the 1994-95 season after being acquired from the Lighting on March 14th, 1995. An Ultrafil material garment made by CCM, a brand label as well as a size "54" fly tag is affixed to the inner collar while the logos of both the NHL and CCM have been embroidered into the reverse hem. Decorated over the front of the jersey with a familiar Devils team crest that has been applied in layered tackle twill, the sleeves and verso of the garment have been styled with Cole's number "20" in dual layer red-over-black tackle twill numerals. Having had "Cole" spelt out in matching style letters across the affixed matching nameplate that is in place at the top of the reverse, the jersey displays its original fight strap on the interior as well as light-to-moderate game-wear in the form of stick marks over the front, reverse and both sleeves, light board burns over the sleeves and left shoulder and lastly, coloured board paint transfer marks over the lower front and left sleeve. Also showing light pilling on the interior of the jersey, the piece comes accompanied by a Devils team LOA denoting the jersey as being worn by Cole during the 1994-95 season as well as a MeiGray 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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