Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction Spring 2025
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/29/2025
A product of the St. Lawrence University Saints men's ice hockey program from 1964 to 1968, Gary Croteau would go on to play 684 games in the National Hockey League over the course of his career, suiting up over that time for the likes of Los Angeles, Detroit, California, Kansas City and Colorado. Playing a total of four (4) seasons in the Bay Area with the Golden Seals between 1970 and 1974, Croteau posted 123 points for the green and gold over the course of 270 games played. Offered here, we present this California Golden Seals jersey worn by Croteau during the 1970-71 season which has been photo-matched.
A heavy weight durene construction offering made by Wilson, a brand label displaying a heavily faded size "48" designation penned in thin black marker ink is affixed to the inner collar while the interior still sports its original garter style fight strap. Decorated over the front of the jersey with "Seals" in individually sewn on dual layer green-over-white tackle twill letters, the sleeves and verso have been styled with Croteau's number "18" in either single layer green tackle twill numerals (sleeves) or dual layer green-over-white dual layer tackle twill numerals matching the style in which the crest is done up in (verso).
A fresh to hobby example that was acquired from the family of one of the team's former trainers, who had owned it since it was in use in the National Hockey League, the jersey shows incredible game-use throughout its entirety including roughly thirty-six (36) team repairs by our count with the breakdown being; 12 over the front including one roughly fourteen (14) inches in length, 1 over the left side of the collar/shoulder, 8 over the left sleeve, 7 over the right sleeve including one (1) at the base of the "8" and 8 over the reverse, six (6) of which are in the area where the individual letters spelling out the player's name were removed and one (1) in the number "8". Showing additional battle scars via pilling and fabric stretching on the interior of the jersey, the sleeves also show pilling/rubbing from Croteau's gloves, red board paint transfer marks, light stick scuffs/board burns and discolouration near the ends of both sleeves from heavy use/wear, it is also worth noting that the outline of where the individual letters once spelling out "Croteau" were once sewn down over the upper reverse is still easily visible and there is damage to the green layer of twill in the "8" on the reverse. With Croteau being the only player to have donned the number "18" for the Golden Seals between 1970-71 and 1973-74, the wear is consistent for a jersey that was worn for at least one (1) full season of home game in that era of the National Hockey League and possibly more, with it being entirety possible that Croteau wore this jersey in games during the 1971-72 season as well.
Regarding the photo-matches, the jersey is matched to numerous things, including a team issued image from either 1970-71 or 1971-72 that shows matches to the stitch patterns in multiple areas on both sides of the collar as well as the exact pattern of the collar lace, the jersey is also matched to various images from the 1970-71 season showing a match to the permanent triangular shaped fabric crimp behind the left shoulder, to the distinct shape of the fight strap attachment, particularly the upward left-to-right slant at the base of it, to the distinct shape of the "8" on the left sleeve including the upward curve in the top interior box and downward curve in the bottom interior box, the positioning of the "8" on the left sleeve and to the exact placement of the letters that once spelt out 'Croteau' over the upper reverse in comparison to the outline that their former existence that is still easily visible. A truly special shirt from the early expansion years of the NHL, the pieces comes accompanied by an LOA from Global Vintage which includes copies of all the photo-matches mentioned above.
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