Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction February 2024
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/20/2024
Never missing an NHL All-Star Game throughout his unrivaled and unmatched career, Wayne Gretzky trails only his idol Gordie Howe for best-on-best appearances, with six All-Star Game records held including Most Career Goals (13). From the 1996 All-Star Game in Boston that witnessed Wayne and the West fall just short of the East 5-4, we have the Western Conference captain’s jersey worn by the iconic superstar, and it’s been twice signed. A size 56 fly tag sits affixed to the collar, with dual embroidered NHL and CCM crests over the reverse bottom hem. Featuring a partially embroidered twill “Western” team crest, Gretzky’s famous “99” appears over the sleeves and verso in layered tackle twill, with “Gretzky” sewn directly to the upper reverse in matching material. There is also a Kings crest on the left shoulder and 1996 All-Star Game crest on the right. A Sports Registry label has been heat-pressed onto the interior just at the right of the fight strap, and it indicates that this was one of five jerseys worn for either the official photo shoot, pre-game warm-up or in one of the three periods. (This is one of five jerseys made for Gretzky for the 1996 All-Star Game, one for each period of the game as well as the team photo shoot and the pregame warmup skate.) Wayne has signed behind the team crest in black marker, with this seen on all jerseys from the 1996 All-Star Game, with no issues for the signature. Regarding condition, the single contest specimen sports light expected wear, with no obtrusive marks visible. The fight strap has also been cut-away, with a piece of velcro added to the inside reverse hem. Further augmenting the highly desirable garment with his signature, Wayne has signed within the first reverse “9” in blue marker, adding a personalization along with “Your Friend”, with the signature and inscription bleeding-into the background material somewhat. Accompanied by an LOA from the original, Sam McMaster, who was the General Manager of the Los Angeles Kings (1994-97) stating that after the 1996 All-Star Game he was given by the Kings the offered jersey which he later got signed and dedicated to him by Gretzky on the back number “9”, don't miss out on this garment worn by the game's all-time greatest player during a contest that featured all of the National Hockey League's biggest stars.
Addendum; The jersey is now MeiGray authenticated and will come with their LOA which states in part "Inside of this jersey is a Sports Registry tag, serial number 44003632. MeiGray confirmed through records it received from the NHL that Sports Registry was the authenticator of NHL All-Star Game jerseys in 1996, and was on site in Boston applying its authentication serial numbers. Furthermore, MeiGray confirmed that this jersey was one of four attributed as worn by Gretzky during the All-Star Weekend. The four jerseys were distributed to Gretzky, the NHLPA, the NHL, and the Los Angeles Kings. This jersey authenticated as Set 4, distributed to the Kings, and logged by Sports Registry in its database, and the report it provided to the NHL, as 4403632". A photo of the included LOA from MeiGray has been posted on this listing.
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