Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction February 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2016
Ranked as the all-time greatest Toronto Maple Leaf in The Big Book of Sports Lists, Dave Keon first saw action with the Leafs in 1960-61, where his 45 point-season garnered him the impressive Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie. A defensive-forward remembered for his speed, Keon would lead Toronto in scoring on three separate occasions, and would often shut down the opposing team’s star player. This was best exemplified when Keon was able to neutralize Jean Beliveau in the last two games of the 1967 Cup Final, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP for his efforts. Named team captain in 1969, Keon would continue to wear the C throughout his remaining seasons with the club. With four Stanley Cups to his credit along with the aforementioned Conn Smythe and Calder Trophy’s, Keon would also add a pair of Lady Byng’s to his impressive list of accolades, which included enshrinement in hockey’s house of holy in 1986.
We here at Classic Auctions are proud to present Dave Keon’s 1960-61 Toronto Maple Leafs sweater worn in his Calder-winning rookie season, and it’s been photo-matched! Tagging for the vintage wool appears on the inside seam, with a label from Leafs MLG supplier Doug Laurie. Featuring the forever-classic Leafs felt team crest along with Keon’s familiar “14” on the verso, the garment also utilizes dual-striping sleeve and lower front bands. Stylistically dated, the tie-neck’s two-eyelet configuration, the absence of numbers on the sleeves and a felt team crest are all facts pointing to a 1960-61 jersey as the Maple Leafs started wearing numbers on their sleeves in circa 1961-62 and the last year they wore a felt crest was in circa 1962-63. Furthermore, prior to the circa 1960-61 season, the Maple Leafs wore three-eyelets collars also helping dating this jersey to the 1960-61 season. A true survivor in beautiful supple condition, the sweater does exhibit a number of vintage team repairs, but these are isolated to the lower sections of the sleeves for the most part. There are also areas of pilling to the interior to note.
As mentioned, this sweater has been photo-matched. A Dec 23rd Weekend Magazine full page photo from 1961 that will be included shows Keon wearing this jersey, with exact matches to the hand-embroidered details on the right side leaf of the Leafs' team crest, along with the tips on the left side of the crest, and other areas, that have folded in a similar pattern. Keon’s 1961 York peanut butter hockey card also exhibits hand-embroidered details at the top of the team crest that perfectly match-up. With all of the team crest’s hand-embroidered details unique, they provide bullet-proof photo-matches. From arguably the greatest Maple Leaf of all-time, this Dave Keon rookie sweater is definitely worthy of display in the Hall of Fame.
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