This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 6/12/2023.
Wayne Gretzky, known as “The Great One”, played his final career game on April 18th, 1999 as a member of the New York Rangers and recorded an assist for his 2,857th and final career point wearing this jersey. No other player in NHL history has amassed 2,000 career points. Gretzky was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, who had the normal waiting period waived by special exemption. The NHL retired his jersey number 99 league-wide, making him the only player to receive this honor. In Gretzky’s final career game, against the Pittsburgh Penguins at MSG, “The Star-Spangled Banner” singer John Amirante changed one of the lyrics to “in the land of Wayne Gretzky.” The Canadian anthem was also slightly changed in honor of Gretzky. Bryan Adams ad-libbed a line, replacing “O Canada, we stand on guard for thee” to “We’re going to miss you, Wayne Gretzky.” Gretzky’s assist came on a beautiful set up pass that led to a fellow Hall of Famer Brian Leetch goal at 19:30 of the second period. This jersey was featured in Madison Square Garden’s “Defining Moments” Museum on the concourse from 2013-19. This historically significant relic is being offered for the first time publicly. Inside the rear middle tail is a Rangers team tag reading “Game Jersey Set 2 1998-1999 Season”. The date “4-18-99” is handwritten on this tag in black marker. Gretzky signed adjacent to the tag in black marker with the added inscription “4/18/99” and in our opinion rates a 9. Inside the rear neck is a Starter manufacturer’s tag and below is a strip tag reading the player name “GRETZKY” in black. Diagonally across the front reads “RANGERS”. The player number “99” appears on the back and both sleeves and across the back is the player name “GRETZKY” sewn directly into the blue mesh jersey. All numbering and lettering is done in red on white tackle twill. On the back tail are two Starter logos and official NHL logos embroidered and the fight strap has been removed. Gretzky wore four jerseys during his final game, one for warm-ups and one for each period. Gretzky kept the jersey from the 3rd period which was his final jersey which now resides in the Hockey Hall of Fame. This museum quality jersey from the all-time greatest NHL player’s final game is properly tagged, was presented to us as game-used and in our opinion shows appropriate use. Accompanied by a MeiGray Photo-Match LOA, a Full JSA LOA as well as a letter from John Rosasco, the teams long-time Senior Vice President of Public Relations attesting to its authenticity on NY Rangers letterhead.