Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction February 2024
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/20/2024
Able to lay claim to a distinguished junior hockey career as a member of the Niagara Falls Flyers, Steve Ludzik would register 358 points over the course of 193 games played in the OMJHL/OHL and hear his name called 28th overall by the Chicago Black Hawks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. Going on to play a total of 424 NHL games and scoring 46 goals and 93 assists, with all but 11 games of his career spent in the Windy City, offered here is this Black Hawks jersey worn by Ludzik during his first National Hockey League training camp/pre-season before the 1980-81 campaign. A Wilson made durene knit offering with a partially detached brand tag that displays a size "48" designation affixed to the inner collar, another partially detached label, this one for team supplier, Gunzo's, is found sewn underneath. Decorated over the front with Chicago's famed Indigenous head crest that features beautifully chain-stitched details throughout its entirety, matching tomahawk alternate logo patches, also sporting chain-stitched details as well, have been placed over both shoulders. Styled over the sleeves and verso with the number "42" in dual layer white-over-black tackle twill numerals, it is worth noting that white Ludzik is listed in Chicago's 1980-81 Training Camp Guide as wearing the number, he never wore it during regular season play in his career. Originally issued for the 1974 Stanley Cup Playoffs based on the "74 P.O." patch that is sewn to the inside of the front hem, the number was not worn by anyone on the Black Hawks that season or in 1974-75 when the playoff jerseys were recycled into the following year's regular season. Additionally, there is no evidence of a number change. Riddled with game-wear throughout, suggesting it was likely worn in multiple training camps/pre-season circuits, numerous team repairs are found throughout the body and sleeves, including large clusters on both sleeves near the elbows. With stick marks over both sides of the body and sleeves as well along with board burns, unrepaired holes of many sizes (larger on the sleeves near the elbows), red coloured board paint transfer marks are dotted over the lower front and reverse as well as the left sleeve. Sporting fabric runs near both elbows and down the center of the upper back, heavy pilling is observed on the interior as well as a garter style fight strap that has been sewn through the bottom of the reverse number "2". Having been photo-matched to an included "1980" dated image of Ludzik in the offered jersey, the garment has been matched to the loose red thread at the right side of the collar, the placement of the "4" on the right sleeve, intricacies in the crest and right side tomahawk, and the extra bit of white stitching at the end of the "4's" right side.
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