Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/7/2017
Employed throughout the early parts of the 20th century by both baseball and hockey clubs alike, heavy cardigan sweaters issued to team members were commonplace, with surviving specimen’s hailing from a number of clubs testament to both the garment’s predominance as well as their eloquent styling. We have a monumental example offered, with this particular cardigan originating from the famous Vancouver Millionaires in 1922-23, one of three clubs that competed during the PCHA season, with Vancouver claiming it’s third of four consecutive PCHA titles. While the sweater’s aesthetics speak for themselves, an even greater status can be bestowed as this cardigan was once proudly displayed at the Kingston Hockey Hall of Fame, where its original ownership was attributed to legendary PCHA HOF netminder Hughie Lehman.
The remnants of an original label have been fastened to the collar by way of vintage staples, with an inventory label affixed to the backside of the right pocket. Constructed of thick wool dyed in a deep maroon with beige-coloured collar, pocket and cuff accents, the antique sweater features a white felt shield crest over the left breast with inserted maroon characters that state “P.C.H.A. 22-23 Champ's”, with a second white V-shaped panel with inserted letters spelling “Vancouver” placed over the right pocket. All six original wooden buttons are also present. Wear, including some tearing, has occurred to the affixed felt identifiers, with the first "V" of "Vancouver" missing over the pocket, along with part of the "R". There is also light staining along the collar, with the maroon colour bleeding onto the beige material along the cuffs. Small repairs to holes over the front and sleeves are also notable, with a few other examples near the PCHA crest that were never addressed.
As both advanced hockey collectors and historians are astutely aware, this is the only known garment of the Vancouver Millionaires to ever be offered publicly for sale to our knowledge. Another example is known and it is in the collection of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Combining the Hughie Lehman HOF pedigree along with the factors of age, rarity, condition and appearance, this 1922-23 Vancouver Maroons cardigan would be the centerpiece of ANY collection great or small. The 1922-23 squad would include Frank Boucher, Frank Patrick, Cyclone Taylor (1 game!) and others. Lehman would go on to the NHL after his PCHA days, starring as the first netminder of the fabled Chicago Black Hawks during the club’s inaugural season of 1926-27, with enshrinement in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958. An LOA from Classic Auctions will accompany.
By clicking this button, you will IMMEDIATELY bid the amount selected.
By clicking this button, you will submit this amount as your MAXIMUM (absentee) bid. The auction software will place bids on your behalf up to this amount only as it is bid against competitively by other bidder(s).