Edmonton Oilers Auction 2005
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/16/2005
The absolute pinnacle of the perfect collection. Wondrous white mesh Nike uniform worn by Wayne Gretzky during the peak of his career in Edmonton, the City of Champions. Wayne's now-retired double-nines appear in tri-color on the back and again high up on each sleeve. The captain's "C" is proudly displayed on the left breast above the stitched tackle-twill crest of the Edmonton Oilers. The white Nike "swoosh" logo is screened onto the bottom tail with the "bullet" mesh nameplate holding "GRETZKY" higher above. A Nike neck tag, size XL, is the white version used by the Oilers for three seasons from 1983-84 though 1984-85 and sports a large blue marker "W". A tiny white fly tag also appears in the thick ribbed collar. The small loop fight strap is sewn inside the back of the jersey and the shirt has been custom fit to The Great One's specs with a slight bell-cut shape to the body. The game wear is lighter with about twenty-five dark stick marks, some light staining and large material-backed team repair down on the left hip. This jersey was worn briefly by Wayne Gretzky during the mid-1980's and then presented to Oilers team photographer Bob Mummery as partial payment for photographic work appearing in one of Wayne's books. Wayne often wore uniforms for a few games to present to friends, business associates or celebrities. According to a member of the Oilers' equipment staff, the shirts used for this purpose would not have the Velcro piece inside, would not have shortened cuffs and the fight strap loop should be intact. This uniform shows all three of these characteristics. It should also be noted that a few of the game worn Gretzky jerseys from the Edmonton Oilers/Wexler Collection, later marketed by the Meigray Group, did not have Velcro and/or the fight loops were still intact. All of the sewing stitches for the crest, numbers and nameplate is identical and was done by the same machine. Numbering is correct with back numbers measuring to slightly more than 11" in height and the nameplate runs a full 20" from shoulder to shoulder across the back - again, correct for a Gretzky Nike gamer. The arm numbers have the correct "letterbox" shaped cutouts on the inside of the "9". Recently, the hobby has been inundated with Nike Gretzky jerseys "manufactured" using a combination of common Oilers gamers with new numbering and nameplates. This is not the case with this sweater. The history of this uniform can be traced back over 18 years. Bob Mummery sold the jersey in 1987 to noted collector/dealer Milton Byron and it changed hands once more just recently. Comes with the original letter, dated 1987, detailing the provenance and signed by Bob Mummery and an additional LOA from Milton Byron.
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