This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/4/2017
Wayne Gretzky finished up his career with the Edmonton Oilers with a bang by leading his team to their second consecutive Stanley Cup Finals Championship. For his efforts, Gretzky won the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals MVP Award. Shortly after he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, thus making this jersey one of the last he wore while playing for the Oilers.
MEARS Auctions is very excited to offer this fresh to the hobby shirt, hidden as part of a 30 year old Canadian hockey collection. MEARS conducted a complete review of the shirt, our findings:
Style: Full mesh blue body shell with orange and white trim. Orange ribbed V neck collar. Straight cut tail with Velcro sewn inside tail. “Oilers” logo sewn on front. “99” blue/orange/white numbering appears on the sleeves, and reverse. “GRETZKY” appears in white letters on a blue mesh nameplate. “NIKE” is screened on the lower tail. Captain’s “C” right breast. Shirt compares favorably to period images with respect to the above mentioned physical jersey characteristics.
Manufacturer (Nike): Shirt is supplied by the Nike Company. The tag, although worn, is still readable and printed on the front is, “Nike, XL/TG, Made In / Fabrique AU, Canada, CA05553”. The style of the tag compares favorably to:
1987-1988 Gretzky Stanley Cup Edmonton Oilers Jersey (Meigrey)
1987-88 Kevin McClelland Edmonton Oilers Jersey
1987-88 Marty McSorley Edmonton Oilers Jersey
Size XL: The size of the Gretzky shirt compares favorably with the Stanley Cup Finals Gretzky which has entered the hobby.
Equipment Manager Marking: The shirt also possesses a favorable equipment manager applied trait. In the collar, “87/88” was written in black marker. This practice compares favorably to the 1987-88 Kevin McClelland Edmonton Oilers Jersey image reviewed by MEARS and shows a consistency of the applied practice. 1987/88 is also written on a cloth patch sewn on the inside of the shirt.
Game Wear: Shirt exhibits heavy, optimum game use. Numerous areas of stick and slash marks, board burns, and board paint transfer can be viewed when examining this shirt. Those areas have been highlighted via the accompanying graphics. The front logo shows signs of puckering. The stitching on the shoulder and nameplate seams has broken from contact in several places.
Final Grade (MEARS A10): Based on the favorable comparison to period images with respect to style, sizing, game wear, and hand applied 87/88 dating, this shirt is one of the finest examples of a game worn Wayne Gretzky shirt to enter the hobby and was awarded the MEARS A10 grade. This historical significance, 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup Season, Stanley Cup MVP Finals Season, and his last with the Edmonton Oilers makes this one of the finest Wayne Gretzky shirts to have entered the hobby. In the entire history of our company, this is the first and only Wayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers shirt authenticated and offered for sale by MEARS. Simply one of the hobby’s finest!!
(98Z0207)
LOA Troy Kinunen / MEARS