Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction - March 2007
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/27/2007
From the dawning of a Hall of Fame career which placed Doug Harvey at the top of most hockey followers’ all-time greatest defenceman list by the time it had come to an end comes this NHL Standard Player’s Contract which the budding star signed prior to the 1948-49 season. Harvey had started the previous season in AHL Buffalo, before being summoned to Montreal where he made his NHL debut with the Canadiens, appearing in 35 games as a rookie. This two-sided document reveals that Doug was paid $7000 for the ‘48-49 season, while a check in the record books shows that he cashed in on one of two bonus clauses for another $500. Bill Durnan and the Habs’ stingiest defence led to Durnan’s fifth Vezina trophy in six years and the bonus, but Harvey was not named to one of the season-end All- Star teams, teammates Ken Reardon and Glen Harmon getting the nod ahead of Harvey on the “second” team. Dated September 25th, 1948, the contract is signed on front by NHL president Clarence Campbell, while Harvey penned “Douglas N. Harvey” on the back, below the big blue ink signature of Canadiens president Senator Donat Raymond, the man who became president of the Canadian Arena Company, responsible for building the Montreal Forum and which acquired the Canadiens in 1937. With the usual fold lines, a diagonal crease in the bottom portion and a special Harvey signature, the fabulous one-of-a-kind piece will excite Harvey/contract/autograph collectors alike.
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