Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2015

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/25/2015

The Miracle on Ice. Not merely improbable, the all-but-impossible United States hockey victory against the heavily-favored Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics is the consensus pick as the greatest sports moment of the 20th century. Center Rob McClanahan helped lead the U.S. Olympic hockey team to the most stunning upset in the history of the game. Rob was wearing this iconic video-matched “U.S.A.” white mesh jersey throughout the young American squad’s stunning 4-3 victory against the seemingly-invincible Soviet national team in Lake Placid. That legendary victory paved the way to the gold medal for the host team, which claimed the Olympic title with a final come-from-behind win over Finland. McClanahan had eight points in seven games for the U.S. at Lake Placid. His fifth goal of the tournament proved to be the gold medal-winner in the United States’ 4-2 win against Finland to complete the final round. This wondrous white Team USA uniform was issued to and worn by McClanahan during the "Miracle on Ice" match against Russia of February 22, 1980. Additionally, the team wore their whites earlier in the Olympic tournament in wins against Czechoslovakia, Norway and West Germany. According to our consignor, the jersey was traded for at the 1980 Olympics after the conclusion of the tournament. Video of the game provides several instances of two solid matches to this jersey. The distinctive concave curving of the first “N” in McClanahan’s surname in the middle of the nameplate is clearly seen, as is the folding upwards of the bottom white stripe below the sewing line on the right back of the collar. Produced by a firm called Norcon, this historic jersey has the manufacturer's size tag in the collar, complete with the size (XL), washing instructions and the company's Lake Forest, Minnesota address. Sewn-on remnants remain of the top and bottom of the Norcon tag that was cut off the left front tail. The mesh jersey has two-tone tackle twill arched lettering on the chest identifying "USA" and the numbers on the back and sleeves are in identical material and stitched onto the shirt. A blue tackle twill name bar sewn on the back holds white lettering spelling out Rob’s surname. Game wear clearly shows in a board burn on the upper blue stripe on the right front tail, red paint transfer below the “4” on the left sleeve, a white diagonal mark on the bottom of the “2” sewn on the back, and sweat stains on each cuff. The curved “N” in the nameplate has pinkish-red staining at the bottom. An incredible piece from the “Miracle on Ice” worn by one of the United States’ top scorers.

Seeded seventh, the U.S. tied Sweden and beat powerful Czechoslovakia 7-3 on its way to a 4-0-1 record to advance to the medal round. First up for the young American squad, made up of college and amateur players, was the legendary Soviet lineup, a team that had won gold in the previous four Olympic Winter Games. The U.S.S.R. had already routed the U.S. 10-3 in a pre-tournament game at Madison Square Garden. After the first period, the game was tied 2-2 and the Russians added the lone goal in the second frame. Goalie Jim Craig was solid in the U.S. end and Mark Johnson scored his second of the game in the third to bring the U.S. back even. With 10 minutes to go, U.S. captain Mike Eruzione scored his famous game-winning goal. “Do you believe in miracles?” Al Michaels announced as time ran out before answering an emphatic, “Yes!” And if you listen closely you can still hear the crowd chanting, "USA! USA! USA!"