Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction November 2024
A prolific behind the scenes historian of all things related to the City of Detroit, James Mackey would begin his professional career as a graphic designer after graduating from Wayne State University with a BA at 20 years of age. Soon finding himself at Channel 2 News in Motown by 1960, where his career spanned a tumultuous 42+ years, ending in 2002 with him retiring as Graphic Manager. Throughout that wonderfully rich career with Channel 2, he was fortunate enough to have won 4 Emmy Awards for set design. Beginning to photograph the Detroit Tigers and Lions as a correspondent for Channel 2 News around 1960 as well, he was hired as a freelance photographer by Olympia Entertainment in 1962, where he would spend the next 34 years procuring some of the greatest hockey moments to have been caught on film in Detroit Red Wings history and in the mid-1960s he would become the graphic artist & cartoonist for the Detroit Red Wings Magazine with multiple sections in each program including "In The Click Of It", "Red Wing Magazine" and "Sticks and Yuks by Mackey". Building many life long relationships with numerous Hockey Hall of Fame greats. Most notably, Gordie Howe, who even went as far to invite Jim to Pittsburgh for the opportunity to capture Gordie scoring his 700th goal, their relationship spanned their entire lives. Described by his son Eric with "He loved sports period", whether it was boat racing, lacrosse, baseball, football, hockey, Jim was there covering the event and capturing moments that will live on forever. As part of its current auction, Classic Auctions is proud to present some of the premier items from the collection of James A. Mackey.
From the impressive James Mackey personal collection, this lot contains a group of 37 high-grade Red Wings programs from 1967-68 - which consists of exactly half the NHL season of 74 games, with 31 of the 37 accompanied by original artwork from the program. To find even lone examples of original hockey artwork is quite the task, never mind quality examples from a prolific and official artist! Most of the artwork is 11 1/2" x 14", with notations and printing marks, with each covered with thin paper to protect the images. Highlights include the Bruins dressing room with Orr jersey hanging, coaches Punch Imlach and Sid Abel shaking hands, Rangers impressive record on Sunday games, Montreal Canadiens last place to first place in one month, Gordie Howe with All-Star stats, Bobby Hull with Stan Mikita, Detroit Red Wings improving their record, Philadelphia Flyers Bernie Parent and Doug Favell, Habs in last place with Beliveau, Richard and Ferguson injured, Ranger player dreaming of new Madison Square Garden, and many others. This is an especially impressive collection in stunning high-grade condition.
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