Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/25/2015
Heartwarming with great insight into a hockey player’s often lonely life is this 5-page (5 ¼” x 7”) handwritten letter from HOFer Dit Clapper to his wife in Vancouver. Clapper was writing from his Toronto hotel room on Dec. 26, 1936, telling her how much he missed her and son Donald, and how things weren’t going all that great for him that season. “It’s really a hell of a life,” he writes, and adds further down, “wouldn’t be surprised if this is my last year in Boston.” Signed twice by the HOFer (ind. 1947, dec. 1978), once in closing off as “Dit”, and on the envelope “(Mrs) Dit Clapper), it’s a poignant and fascinating glimpse into a player’s life away from his family at Christmas, with both the letter and the envelope in fine condition.
Clapper might have wondered if 1936-37 was his last season in Boston but it was far from it. He would finally hang them up during the ’46-47 campaign, 10 years later. And as a side note, it would be years later that the NHLPA would finally force the league in giving players a few days off at Christmas.
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