Historical Hockey Memorabilia Winter 2012
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/22/2012
Following the 1926 Stanley Cup playoffs, during which the Western Hockey League was widely reported to be on the verge of folding and rumors would soon bear fruit, the NHL held meetings to determine how their own growth could be forwarded by picking up the WHL's pieces and players. A expansion franchise in Detroit purchased the players of the folded Victoria Cougars WHL club and the new Detroit team also adopted the Cougars' nickname in honor of the folded club. Playing their first season in 1926-27, the Cougars would later become the Detroit Red Wings that we know today. Immensely important find in this hobby-fresh 1926-27 Detroit Cougars wool uniform worn by defenseman Eric Brolin. Brolin, according to newspaper clippings of the time, was with the Cougars for the start of the 1926-27 season and was then loaned to the St. Paul Saints of the American Hockey Association in January of 1927. It follows that this woolen wonder would have been worn earlier in the 1926-27 campaign. Another clipping from October of 1926 details that Brolin had been signed to the club during the summer by player/coach Art Duncan. This historic sweater, worn during the inaugural season in Detroit, boasts the stylish-script letter "D" in cream felt on the chest across a crimson stripe. The back of the uniform displays a felt number "7' in identical material. The shirt is bare of any tagging but is quite similar in size to other pro uniforms of the period. The red ribbed neckline matches tapered cuffs and it is evident that the dyes used have run, causing pinkish areas where the red meets the cream-colored wool. Our research shows that no player wore the number "7' for more than a couple of games that year so it does make sense that this extra shirt would have been issued for use by Brolin and was packed away as a souvenir when he left the Detroit club to play in St. Paul later in the season. Condition on these old wools is key for collectors and this example will surely please. We count about ten of the smallest of material holes on the body, and all but one of these are on the backside of the shirt. The well-preserved treasure is an excellent display piece and truly worthy of display in the Hall. A wondrous wool from the dawn of hockey in Detroit! From the estate of Eric Brolin, with a signed letter of authenticity from the family. [red] Addendum; Additional information relayed to us by our consignor, the grandson of Eric Brolin, recalls that this sweater has remained in the family’s possession dating back to 1927 when Eric brought the uniform back from his time in Detroit. Whenever Brolin was talking about his playing days, as recalled by members of his family, he always claimed that this was his Detroit Cougars jersey, the one he wore with the team. Further research reveals that Russell Oatman also wore number 7 early in the 1926-27 season before he was traded to the Montreal Maroons after playing 11 games with the club. Eric Brolin was assigned to the St. Paul Saints in mid-January of 1927 so it is a possibility that the jersey was worn by one or both players, Oatman at the start of the season and Brolin soon afterwards, up until January when he was sent to St. Paul.
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