Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction April 2024
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2024
With roots going all the way back to 1926 as the Providence Reds and still existing today as the Hartford Wolf Pack, from 1990 to 1997 the club in Binghamton and serving as the New York Rangers primary AHL affiliate was also known as the Rangers and would win four (4) straight division titles between 1992 and 1996. Offered here, is this Binghamton Rangers jersey worn by Maxim Galanov, New York's 3rd round draft choice in 1993, during his first North American professional season of 1995-96. A mess construction garment made by CCM, both brand and size "52" labels are affixed to the inner collar while a Gerry Cosby label has been added in as well. Having had the logo of CCM embroidered into the reverse hem, an AHL league patch has been sewn on over the embroidered NHL shield while the American Hockey League's 60th anniversary patch that was worn by all the league's teams throughout the duration of the season has been sewn on over the reverse hem as well. Exactly the same as the jerseys worn by the NHL Rangers, the front of the garment is decorated with "Rangers" going diagonally down the chest in dual layer red-over-white drop-shadow tackle twill letters while Galanov's number "6" has been added over both sleeves in matching style numerals. Displaying "Galanov" spelt out in matching style letters that have been placed in a gentle arch over the affixed matching mesh nameplate at the top of the reverse, the jersey, still sporting its original fight strap on the interior that exhibits heavy rusting, shows good game-wear throughout including stick marks over the front, reverse and both sleeves, board burns and coloured board paint transfer marks over both sleeves and a pair of team repairs on the right sleeve. Also showing some spot staining over the lower front and pilling on the interior, the jersey comes accompanied with a MeiGray LOA and COR.
Instrumental to the hobby as one of the founders of the MeiGray Group in 1997, a hobby entity paramount in the authentication of game-worn jerseys and equipment, pioneer collector Barry Meisel enjoyed almost two decades as a successful sports journalist. Beginning with his days interning for the Binghamton Evening Press while a senior in college, Meisel explains how his passion for collecting was fueled, stating “My plan was to get a game-worn jersey for every team I covered once I became a pro hockey writer. I got a Barons, then a Broome Dusters, Binghamton Whalers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers. It was the late '80s. My first career was born. From the Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin to the Morristown, NJ, Daily Record, to the New York Daily News”.
In his dozen years with the New York Daily News, Meisel covered the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and New York Giants. He also spent the early-1990s serving as the News’ investigative sports reporter, with additional time as a columnist for The Hockey News (1982-90) and The New York Giants Newsweekly (1990-96), with a few book authored including 'Losing the Edge: The Rise and Fall of the Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers’. Despite building a vast and encompassing grouping of items, Meisel notes, "I have my favorites. The Scotty Press that still sits in my home office. My 1983-84 Detroit Red Wings Ken Holland, the minor-league goalie in Binghamton who became a lifelong friend, and who had a cup of NHL coffee before becoming a Hall of Fame General Manager. And my 1994 Stanley Cup Finals New York Rangers white Craig MacTavish, who was wearing this jersey in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden on June 14, 1994. MacT knocked the final faceoff into the corner with 1.6 seconds left on a 54-year Jinx, the night the Rangers allowed the Monster of MSG to one day Die in Peace. This jersey is on display at the Garden, to remind every Blue Seater from old Section 433 that the wait was worth it”.
Classic Auctions in honoured to have been chosen to sell the Barry Meisel personal collection, with dozens of high-quality jerseys offered including an endless supply of important New York Rangers specimens from Rod Gilbert, Peter Sundstrom, James Patrick, Mark Tinordi, Kris King and other Blueshirts as well as WHA jerseys from the Indianapolis Racers, Quebec Nordiques and Ottawa Nationals. Additional gems that will have bidders salivating includes Peter McDuff’s 1973-74 AHL Providence Reds game-worn home and away jerseys, bobble head dolls, important programs and other assorted memorabilia.
As always, we hope these long-loved treasures find new appreciative collectors, with Meisel stating it best, “It's time for Classic Collectibles and my good friend Marc Juteau to help me find my gamers new homes. Time for others to enjoy the greatest hobby alive."
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