This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/8/2013
Even for the guys who need no introduction, we still gotta have a bit of introduction for Wayne Gretzky. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999. Nicknamed "The Great One", he has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters, players, and the NHL itself. He is the leading point-scorer in NHL history, with more assists than any other player has points, and is the only NHL player to total over 200 points in one season – a feat he accomplished four times. In addition, he tallied over 100 points in 16 professional seasons, 14 of them consecutively. At the time of his retirement in 1999, he held 40 regular-season records, 15 playoff records, and six All-Star records.
In the mid 1980's, the Edmonton Oilers were the only team to use Nike practice and game jerseys. There is a photo of Gretzky wearing a similar blue Oilers practice jersey on page 69 in the book "Wayne Gretzky: The Authorized Pictorial Biography". The dozen or so team repairs to the inside near the elbows indicates heavy use from an Oilers player or players. However, it is unconfirmed if this particular jersey is the one pictured or if Wayne wore it in practice. We attribute this signed jersey to a Wayne Gretzky practice worn jersey early in his Edmonton Oilers tenure. The blue mesh jersey has a Nike "XL/TG" tag on the collar, with screened Oilers logo on the front and Nike logo on the back. Gretzky has signed dead center on the white Oilers logo in front with his no. "99" inscribed in 9/10 black pen. This jersey is the only known example autographed by Gretzky and put to auction. A rare Gretzky signed Edmonton Oilers era worn piece.
Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.