Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction June 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/15/2016
We here at Classic Auctions are pleased to bring to the collecting community a sweater worn in the Howie Morenz memorial game, and it is poetically fitting that it’s the sweater that was worn by Babe Siebert. Within less than two years, Siebert would drown in Lake Huron before the beginning of the 1939-40 season, and like Morenz, he would also be the recipient of a memorial game played at the Forum to aid the loved ones he left behind.
The striking red wool sweater with Canadiens’ blue and white striping accents features both “Howie Morenz” and “Memorial Game” in black felt-on-felt plates across the chest, with the former arching over the latter. A thick red felt “CH” logo with white trim has been affixed to the blue striping band of the left sleeve, and it’s unique in design with a straight left edge as opposed to the familiar rounding. “15” in white felt has been sewn to verso, with the typical blue and white striping bands present on the back and lower reverse section omitted from the garment’s obverse. Please take note that this item may be subject to a silent reserve. Comes with LOA.
Stirring wool sweater in Montreal Canadiens’ colors brings forth the story of the benefit game played at the Montreal Forum on Wednesday, November 3, 1937, to aid the family of the late great Howie Morenz who had died in hospital the previous March. The idol of a generation and one of hockey’s immortals, Morenz was just 34 when an embolism took him to the red, white and blue heavens, leaving behind a saddened hockey world and a legacy recounted countless times. The game pitted an All-Star team of Montreal Canadiens and Maroons against a lineup of All-Stars from the NHL’s other teams.
A few holes are present on the antique garment, notably on the left sleeve, front neckline and on the reverse among the numbers and on the lower portion. The felt chest plates are also loose in a few spots, with a tear to the top of the plate between the “H” and “O” of “Howie”, along with the lower plate completely split between the “E” and “M” of “Memorial”. Despite these minor issues, the sweater’s colours remain vibrant, with the material supple.
Definitely one of the most important antique wools seen at auction in recent memory, this Babe Siebert Howie Morenz memorial game sweater is the perfect companion piece to the matching example worn in the memorial by Mush March, also offered in this auction. The sheer occurance of just one of these historic sweaters coming to auction is uncommon to say the least, while having a pair for both the Canadiens/Maroons and the NHL All-Stars is a hobby event unlikely to occur again. For those connoisseurs with the available means, this pair of paramount sweaters should definitely be reunited, and forever displayed together.
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