Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2020
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/20/2020
Demonstrating his sheer dominance early and putting all naysayers to rest, Wayne Gretzky would famously make his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers during the 1979-80 season, embarking on the greatest career in history, with the hockey world at large closely watching. After slipping his first of 894 career goals past the Vancouver Canucks’ Ed Hanlon, on Oct 14, 1979, The Great One would register 137 points over 79 regular-season games – a record that still stands for the highest point total by a first-year player, with his first of eight-consecutive Hart Memorial trophies earned as the NHL’s most valuable player.
One of the most historically important sticks ever offered in the hobby, this specimen was used by the unrivaled superstar during his inaugural NHL campaign in 1979-80. Originating from a Madison Square Garden employee who obtained the stick in 1979-80, Wayne used multiple types of different sticks during his first season, and according to research done by Shawn Chaulk, this model would have been used in late October of 1979. A Titan Pro model with “W. Gretzky” stamped to the upper shaft in red, “99” and “Gretz” are handwritten, with the original white (now dark) tape over the handle and black at the heel section of the blade (this style of tape job was used briefly at the beginning of his career). All four edges of the shaft have been shaved, with the front and reverse blade and lower shaft darkened. This is arguably the rarest and most coveted Gretzky rookie stick model in the hobby.
Nice game-use is exhibited on the paramount lumber, with the stick uncracked and remaining completely solid, with wear to the underside of the blade along with marks to the shaft. We should also note that a pair of included photos shows Wayne using this model of stick with the same type of heel tape job, with some of the marks on the stick appearing in the same areas on the photos, but the image is not clear enough to call a definitive photo-match.
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