Gordie Howe is Mr. Hockey. The Hall of Famer and NHL legend made his NHL debut for the Detroit Red Wings in 1946, when he was only 18 years old. Upon his initial retirement 25 years later he held NHL career records for goals, assists, and points.
But he was not finished. When the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association signed his sons Mark and Marty prior to the 1973-74 season. Gordie re-started his hockey career in order to fulfill his dream of playing professionally with his sons. For the first time in the history of professional team sports, a father would play with his son ... let alone two sons.
Not only did they play on the same team, they often played on the same forward line. Not only did they play together, they won together. Gordie, Mark and Marty led the Aeros to the 1974 Avco Cup as WHA Champions. Gordie that season won the Gary L. Davidson Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player. Mark won the Lou Kaplan Trophy as the league's top rookie.
But he was not finished. When the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association signed his sons Mark and Marty prior to the 1973-74 season. Gordie re-started his hockey career in order to fulfill his dream of playing professionally with his sons. For the first time in the history of professional team sports, a father would play with his son ... let alone two sons.
Not only did they play on the same team, they often played on the same forward line. Not only did they play together, they won together. Gordie, Mark and Marty led the Aeros to the 1974 Avco Cup as WHA Champions. Gordie that season won the Gary L. Davidson Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player. Mark won the Lou Kaplan Trophy as the league's top rookie.
Gordie Howe, Front
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Museum ID
Sleeve Number
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Rawlings Tagging
Shoulder Star
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Nameplate, Back Number
Hole
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Gordie Howe, Back
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Mark Howe, Front
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Museum ID
Fight Strap
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Crest
Team Repair
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Wear
Sleeve Number
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Mark Howe, Back
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Marty Howe, Front
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Museum ID
Fight Strap
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Tagging
Fight Strap Stitching
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Shoulder Star
Sleeve Number
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Marty Howe, Back
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Photo-match
Provenance
As warranted to MeiGray by Classic Auctions, Gordie Howe donated these three jerseys to the Kingston International Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum years ago. The museum consigned them to Classic Auctions in June 2011.
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MeiGray Vintage Report
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Gordie Howe first hit the ice wearing a blue Houston Aeros jersey on September 25, 1973 when Madison Square Garden and the new New York Golden Blades hosted what it called a "Hockey Spectacular." The Aeros, the Bobby Hull-led Winnipeg Jets, the defending Avco Cup champion New England Whalers, and the Golden Blades competed in a round-robin tournament in which each team played one period against the other.
Based on photos that depict this style of Aeros jersey, a style that the Aeros wore only in 1973-74, it is believed that the three Howes wore these three jerseys in their first WHA appearance ever. The Aeros opened the regular season on the road, and they finished their season by defeating the Chicago Cougars, 6-2, at home on May 19, 1974. It was the first of their back-to-back Avco Cup Championships. These dureen jerseys were manufactured by Rawlings. The lettering is tackle-twill. MeiGray Select dates the jersey to the 1973-74 WHA season by the serif font name on back, and the unique position of the shoulder stars. The stars were far closer to the shoulder yoke than they were in 1974-75. In 1974-75 and 1975-76, the name on back was a sans-serif font, and the star was further from the shoulder yolk. The jersey is photo-matched to a hole in the lower right rear hem of the jersey, while being worn by Howe in a A 1-inch x 2 1/2-inch tag with a hand-written inventory number was sewn into the hem of each jersey by the Kingston International Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum for their internal inventory system. |
Sans-serif font worn in 1974-75 and 1975-76.
Shoulder star worn in 1974-75 and 1975-76.
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