Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/26/2019
Averaging almost an unfathomable 3-points-per-game during his lone season with the OHA’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 1977-78, Wayne Gretzky would don his iconic #99 at this time, as his desire to continue to wear #9 honouring his idol Gordie Howe was impossible, as it was worn by Greyhounds teammate Brian Gualazzi. From Wayne’s time while playing for the Greyhounds, we have the puck from Wayne’s first goal with the Soo along with a pair of 1976-77 Seneca Nationals programs featuring Wayne, with all three items hailing from Bill Cornish, who served as Wayne’s legal guardian. The puck has a somewhat worn Greyhounds logo, with heavily toned tape wrapped around the side with handwritten particulars that state, “First OHA M Jr goal vs Oshawa @ 14.43, Soo 1 Osh 0". The Seneca programs are both simple fold-over examples at 6” x 9” (folded), with Wayne listed in each as #9 with the Nationals, with the superstar also featured on one cover. An LOA from Bill Cornish will accompany.
The puck exhibits a chip beneath the Greyhounds logo along with a slice over the reverse, with the tape heavily toned as mentioned. The programs both show moderate handling wear, with a small fold over the upper right corner on the white example, along with a large horizontal fold line and damage over the top of the back cover to the program picturing Wayne on the cover.
William (Bill) Cornish was named legal guardian of Wayne Gretzky in June of 1975 as his parents, Walter and Phyllis, had decided Wayne would play his junior hockey in Toronto, and he would be staying with the Cornish family (which he did so for a few years). Bill was the general manager of the Toronto Nationals bantam team and he is the one who came up with the idea of having Gretzky playing in the Jr. B when a legal battle arise for Wayne to play in the MTHL.
By clicking this button, you will IMMEDIATELY bid the amount selected.
By clicking this button, you will submit this amount as your MAXIMUM (absentee) bid. The auction software will place bids on your behalf up to this amount only as it is bid against competitively by other bidder(s).