Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2020
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/26/2020
Assuming captain’s duties for the Montreal Canadiens in 1961-62 following the departure of fellow Hall of Fame member Doug Harvey, Jean Beliveau would lead the Habs to a quartet of Stanley Cup championships throughout the decade while proudly wearing the “C”, and ultimately serve as the club’s heart and soul. Capturing a Hart Memorial Trophy in 1963-64 followed by the prestigious Conn Smythe Trophy the very next season, Jean would top Canadiens’ scorers in 1963-64, 1967-68 and 1970-71, his final NHL season. One of very few players to spend the entirety of his career with a single club, the name Jean Beliveau is synonymous with the Montreal Canadiens organization, with Jean serving the Bleu Blanc Rouge in numerous capacities following his illustrious playing career.
Originally obtained from a Montreal Canadiens scout who had received the jersey directly from Beliveau, this paramount Montreal Canadiens wool captain’s sweater was worn by Le Gros Bill during the 1962-63 NHL season, and it’s been photo-matched to both the regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs! Currently void of any labeling, the vintage sweater measures-out to roughly a modern size 46. Proudly sporting the Habs’ famous “CH” emblem adorning the chest in red, white and blue layered tackle twill, Jean’s iconic “4” graces the sleeves and verso in blue-over-red twill, with the captain’s “C” over the left breast in matching material. Single blue and red striping bands have also been utilized along the waist, with four eyelet configuration on tie-neck construction. The earliest and arguably nicest Habs specimen from the decade we’ve ever had the pleasure of offering, the game wear on the important garment is just as nice, with a few dark marks visible over the front and team crest, along with a few additional marks over the sleeves and reverse. There is also heavy pilling throughout; evidence of thorough use, with the team crest, numbers and captain’s “C” all remaining firmly affixed. Faint red paint transfer over the right elbow and signs of blue paint transfer directly beneath is also visible, with a single small hole on the lower left sleeve and a trio of small team repairs on and near the right elbow.
Regarding the aforementioned photo-matches, an included numeric image from Nov 14, 1962, has been matched to the spacing visible of the white sections of the team crest, while a second included image from Feb 20, 1963, has been matched to the uneven meeting points of the striping bands over the waist. A third image from March 26, 1963 has been matched to the uneven meeting point of the blue striping band at the reverse, with the final image from April 4, 1963 (playoffs – semifinals) matched to the washed-out blue transfer marks on the lower right sleeve.
Worn proudly by one of the all-time greatest while representing the most successful hockey club in history, this tangible relic of the Original Six era carry’s considerable gravitas, with an emotional response elicited from each and every individual able to touch the delicate wool and contemplate it’s remarkable narrative. An LOA from Classic Auctions will accompany, and please take note that this item may be subject to a silent reserve.
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