The Miracle on Ice is widely regarded as one of the most significant upsets in sports history. The young underdogs of the USA hockey team were comprised mainly of college hockey players and they took down the world class USSR team during their path to the gold medal game of the 1980 Olympics. On Sunday, February 24, 1980 the mission was accomplished and the story was concluded with a cherry on top in the way of a gold medal (4-2) victory over Finland.
Offered here is the premier collection of full tickets from the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York involving the events of the US Hockey Team from their “Miracle On Ice” run to the gold medal. There are 10 tickets total, seven from the hockey games where Team USA went 6-0-1 and three additional tickets – Opening Ceremonies, Playoff/Medal Presentation and Closing Ceremonies”. All of the tickets have been signed in bold black marker by 19 members of the hockey team and Assistant Coach Craig Patrick for 20 total signatures. The signatures include captain Mike Eruzione, goalie Jim Craig, Ken Morrow, Mike Ramsey, Mark Johnson, Rob McClanahan, Dave Silk, Bill Baker, Neal Broten, Cave Christian, Steve Christoff, John Harrington, Steve Janaszak, Jack O’Callahan, Mark Pavelich, Buzz Schneider, Eric Strobel, Phil Verchota and Mark Wells. All of the signatures have been authenticated by Beckett Authentication and have been graded its highest grade of GEM MINT 10.
The tickets are blue (except noted) and include the first games played on Tuesday, February 12, 1980. This game was the only non-win for the Americans as they tied Sweden 2-2 (Beckett 11565028). This game was played the night before the Opening Ceremonies. The next ticket is from the Opening Ceremony held on February 13, 1980 and is a gold colored (Beckett 11565037). Next is the ticket from the February 14th games where the US defeated Czechoslovakia 7-3 (Beckett 11565030). The next games were from February 16, 1980 as the US defeated Norway 5-1 (Becket 11565034). Next is the ticket from the February 18th games where the US defeated Romania 7-2 (Beckett 11565022). The next ticket is from the February 20th games, which were the final games of the preliminary round that saw the US defeat West Germany 4-2 (Beckett 11565017). The next ticket is from the historic medal round game that saw the US upset the Soviet Union 4-3 thanks to the heroics of Jim Craig in goal and the third period goal by Mike Eruzione (Beckett 11565013). The next ticket is from the February 24th medal round game where the United States clinched the gold medal with a 4-2 triumph over Finland (Beckett 11565011). The next ticket is also from February 24th, which was the final medal round game between Sweden and the Soviet Union where the Soviets crushed the Swedes 9-2 to win the silver medal. Despite the loss, Sweden won the bronze medal. This ticket included the game and the gold medal ceremony (Beckett 11565006). The final ticket in this lot is silver and was for the Closing Ceremony that took place on February 24th (Beckett 11565003).