Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction November 2023
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/28/2023
The biggest star to ever grace the WHA despite only seeing action in 80 regular-season games split between two clubs, Wayne Gretzky first signed with the Indianapolis Racers in June of 1978 and skated in just 8 games for the team before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers and helping them to an appearance in the Avco Cup Finals against the Winnipeg Jets in what would be the final championship series in the history of "The Rival League" as the impending merger between the WHA and NHL would see the Oilers and Jets as well as the New England Whalers and Quebec Nordiques join the National Hockey League for the 1979-80 season. Contributing a total of twenty (20) points over the course of thirteen (13) playoff contests in that final WHA postseason with the Oilers, proudly presented here, we offer this stick signed and used by "The Great One" during the final WHA season of 1978-79 as a member of the Edmonton Oilers that comes accompanied by excellent provenance.
Having been in the possession of our consignor since he obtained it some 44 years ago in 1979 from Edmonton's P.A. announcer, Mark Lewis, who was and still is a close personal friend of his, it is stated by Lewis that he received the stick as a gift from someone in the Oilers' organization shortly after the 1978-79 Avco Cup finals between the Winnipeg Jets and the Edmonton Oilers and he was told it was one of two sticks used by Gretzky in the final game of the Avco Cup Finals. Although we cannot confirm this stick was used in the final game of the 1978-79 Avco Cup Finals or in one of the other five (5) games of the series via a photo-match or a video-match, we can confirm that it is the correct model of stick he used in those finals and that the stick has all of the appropriate characteristics of a Wayne Gretzky game-used stick of that era.
A Titan made offering in red from top-to-bottom except for the natural wood blade and darkened lower shaft, a bold black "W. Gretzky" stamp is observed over the upper shaft with a good portion of the "K" missing. Retaining its original white-over-black tape job over the handle/knob and a few strands of black on the blade, matching what is seen being used by Wayne in photos from the era, the edges of the stick on all four (4) sides have been custom-shaved down to Gretzky's liking while the vintage twig used by hockey's all-time greatest player shows good evidence of game-use via black stick and puck marks over the blade on both sides as well as over the heel and lower shaft as well. With other marks and abrasions present through the length of the shaft on both sides also, the stick remains in good condition with no unsightly cracks or breaks that affect the structural integrity though it should be mentioned that a small chip is seen just above the heel, some chipping/wear is seen along the top edge of the blade and four (4) small nail holes are found in the shaft from it being mounted on a wall at one point in time, with two (2) on the upper shaft and two (2) on the lower shaft. Additionally, there is dried up residue found on both sides of the lower shaft and the stick is accompanied by a 7" x 5" wooden plaque that features a metal plate over its face that displays information pertaining to the stick's origin and when it was used. Furthermore, Gretzky has signed over the forehand side of the blade with a now vintage signature in black marker that has faded over time from age but still remains fully legible, adding an inscription reading "Best Wishes" in matching ink above the autograph which is also found in the same condition.
Registering a total of 110 points in 80 regular season games played during his lone season of WHA play and going on to set the NHL on fire over the course of 20-years from 1979 to 1999, Gretzky would register a career total of 2857 points in 1487 games played, winning four (4) Stanley Cup championships along with a bevy of individual awards including nine (9) Hart and ten (10) Art Ross Trophy's. Retiring in 1999 and still the all-time leader for points, goals and assists as of this writing, Gretzky would be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999 and having his number "99" retired league wide in 2000.
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