This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/20/2024
Darryl Sittler broke into the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1970 after being drafted in the first round, eighth overall, from the London Knights of the OHL. Four years later, after scoring 92 goals and assisting on 119, he was given the coveted assistant captains moniker. This photo matched jersey comes from that very 1974-75 season and is all original. Rawlings durene home white jersey with the coveted “A” affixed to the left chest where a period Sittler signature resides. He did not start the season as the assistant to then Captain Dave Keon, that designation was given mid season. The next season in 1975-76 he was awarded the Captaincy and had it for seven years, becoming the second youngest in Leafs history at age twenty-four.
The Jersey shows season long wear with nine repairs, six down the left arm and shoulder and three on the front. The left arm is just mangled with era correct pinched from behind Leaf repairs, pilling, material runs and slash marks. This is where you find the first 2 matches for this one of a kind jersey. In the photo against the New York Islanders, you can see the unrepaired hole and the pinched repair running right beside and through it. In the next photo playing the Philadelphia Flyers, one repair can be seen running towards the other repairs where the major sewing has come together creating a pucker. The Other photos you see are all matched to the location of the A as you see Ron Ellis in the photo where his sits in relation to the crest and tie down. The repair under the A is a very nice touch denoting it was used prior to Sittler having been given the honour.
The jersey has washed out blood stains all over the front left shoulder and dotted around the jersey. The crest letters NT in Toronto show those marks as well. Several unrepaired holes, board burns, fraying and pilling to go along with material runs and dry-cleaned out slash marks, makes this one nicely hammered jersey. Heavy wash wear to the crest and numbers as they are very soft to the touch. Inside the jersey sits a Rawlings Tag size 50. Major pilling at the elbows and has a rare double fight strap as Sittler was known to drop the mitts when needed.
The Leafs had their jersey dry cleaned, taking out most of the stick and puck marks but some remain. The dry cleaners also repaired the jerseys for the club. They would turn the jersey inside out and pinch up the torn area and sew it together. Joe Sgro, the Leafs trainer at the time relayed that information many years ago.
This rare jersey was gifted to a then 9 year old for his Birthday by Leafs owner Harold Ballard at the end of the 1975 season. His father had a connection to the big boss as you can see. It was purchased directly from this individual and his family several years ago in Toronto. It has never been offered for public sale until now. A soon to be fifty year old one of a kind jersey, its a must have for your vintage Leafs or Hall of Fame collection.
In 1976, Sittler would achieve legendary status, not only in Toronto, but across Canada and the hockey world. It began at Maple Leaf Gardens on February 7, 1976, in a game against the Boston Bruins. While centering a line with Lanny McDonald and Errol Thompson, Sittler scored 10 points (six goals and four assists) and set an NHL record for the most points in a single game—a record that still stands today. That record-breaking moment helped Sittler become the first ever Maple Leaf to reach 100 points in a single season.
Darryl Sittler retired from the NHL in 1985, he played 844 games for the Maple Leafs over twelve seasons. He recorded 389 goals and 916 points in that time and wrapped up his career as the Leafs all-time leader in goals and points. To this day he still holds the Maple Leafs career record for hat tricks with 18 and the longest point streak of 18 games and was the first Maple Leaf to record 100 points in an NHL season. His illustrious career led to his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989, Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, received a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame in 2016 and in 2014 the prestigious Maple Leafs Legends Row paid tribute with a life size bronze statue of him.