Wayne Gretzky’s final game in an Oilers uniform, in which Edmonton clinched the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in five years, has spawned two of the biggest records in hockey memorabilia: Gretzky’s jersey and stick from that game both sold for NHL records ($1.45 million and $336,000, respectively).
His gloves from that game, which also set an NHL mark when they sold for $204,162 in 2022, will be auctioned in a single-lot sale at Sotheby’s. The auction house has placed a pre-sale estimate of $400,000 to $600,000 on the photo-matched gloves.
Bidding opened Wednesday morning.
During the 1988 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Gretzky recorded 43 points across 19 games in one of the greatest performances in playoff history.
If the gloves meet or exceed Sotheby’s estimate, it would mean doubling in price in just three years. While that might seem like a lofty ambition, the game-worn memorabilia market has been on a rapid ascent over that time period.
Gretzky, in particular, has been the subject of multiple headline-grabbing sales, including the aforementioned memorabilia from the final game in an Oilers uniform, as well as the sale of his final career game jersey for $715,120 in 2023.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for [cllct], the premier company for collectible content.