This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/10/2010
An actual game-used jersey from the defunct California Golden Seals, one of the more pleasing and appealing 1970s NHL jerseys these eyes have ever seen. Hailing from a WHL/NHL lineage that started with the San Francisco Seals in '61, experienced three other changes before becoming the California Golden Seals in 1970, and then quickly became the Cleveland Barons in '76 for two short seasons before finally folding due to financial losses and poor attendance in 1978, the only NHL team to do so since 1942. Our point is, the California Golden Seals is one of the most short-lived teams in NHL history, lasting just six seasons, and only in four of which did they dress in the style of the striking kelly green jersey offered here, direct from the closet of Gilles Meloche, who was the club's #1 goaltender from '71 through '76, when he followed the team to Cleveland. Dating from circa the second year in Meloche's 18-year career, this period durene kelly green jersey shows embedded California gold and snow white sleeve, shoulder, and tail stripes and is tagged in the neck by Wilson a size 50. White single tackle twill lettering sewn directly onto the jersey, with white on yellow double tackle twill Seals logo on front and yellow on white double tackle twill numbering on back and single tackle twill yellow sleeve numbers. Traces of use primarily concentrated in the sleeves, with a small one-inch team repair below the left elbow pad. LOA signed by Meloche himself from Classic Auctions.net along with an auction house letter from Mile High Card Co.