Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2021
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/24/2021
Seeking the services of a new netminder despite Hughie Lehman posting a 14-3 record along with backstopping the Vancouver Millionaires to the Stanley Cup championship, PCHA guru Frank Patrick did exactly that in the fall of 1915, with this the very telegram offering Clint Benedict of the NHA’s Ottawa Senators a contract to join the Millionaires. The Senators and Millionaires had just met that past spring in the Stanley Cup finals, with Patrick seemingly impressed with Praying Benny’s play. Apparently the offer wasn’t accepted, as Benedict remained with the Senators until 1923-24, while Lehman continued to guard the Millionaires crease, with his final season in Vancouver occurring in 1921-22. At approx 7” x 8 ¼”, the Canadian Pacific “Night Lettergram” is dated Nov 17, 1915, with the text stating the offer of “fourteen hundred and transportation both ways, if this not attractive enough state what you will come for”. Considering the PCHA schedule of 18 games, the offer worked out to just under $78.00 per game, which would equate to almost $2,000.00 per game in 2020 dollars. Sporting a few tears along with fold lines, creasing and toning, the telegram has been mounted to scrapbook paper, with a pair of period newspaper clippings including one regarding Benedict’s career with the Ottawa Capitals lacrosse team affixed to the reverse.
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