This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/12/2021
Fans on their way to the October 10th, 1979 Chicago Blackhawks season opener were not only going to see the start of a run that would lead to the Hawks to a first-place finish in the Smythe Division but were also going to be introduced to the greatest player in NHL history. A 19-year old center named Wayne Gretzky, who tore up the WHA for 46 goals and 64 assists the prior year, was making his NHL debut for the Edmonton Oilers. Chicago got the better of Edmonton that night, a 4-2 victory, but Gretzky recorded his first official assist and would lead the league with 86 helpers that year, starting a string of 13 consecutive seasons as the league's top assist man. The featured ticket stub is from that historical game, with "4-2 W" written on the back as the spectator probably saw it as nothing more than a home team win. Apparently, they got more than they bargained for at the price of $5.75, the cost of the first balcony ticket. It was just a typical hockey home opener at the time, but it was a game that completely changed the history of the NHL and one of the most significant tickets stubs dedicated to the rink. Graded PSA 3 (MK).