The final Edmonton Oilers sweater ever worn in a game by Wayne Gretzky has become the most expensive hockey jersey in the history of the sport. Gretzky's jersey from the controversial Game 4 of the 1988 Stanley Cup Final was sold at auction for a record-breaking price of $2.806 million.
Historic Sale and Previous Records
The auction price shattered the previous record of $1.452 million set in June 2022, which belonged to this exact same jersey. While the 2022 sale included letters of authenticity from Photo-Match.com and MeiGray, the latter authentication was upgraded. In the lot description, MeiGray 'conclusively determined' that Gretzky wore the jersey not only in Game 4 but also in Game 1, along with three other contests.
Gretzky's Final Stanley Cup Victory
Gretzky and the Oilers won their fourth straight Stanley Cup title in a sweep of the Boston Bruins that year. Within three months, Gretzky would be traded to the Los Angeles Kings. The jersey worn by Wayne Gretzky when he last won the Stanley Cup has broken a record. It would be the last title he won in his career, coming three months before his trade to the Kings.
Games Wearing the Jersey
Among those games included a March 1, 1988, game between the Oilers and Kings where Gretzky passed Gordie Howe for the all-time career assists mark at 1,050. But the jersey is closely tied to Game 4, where the Oilers completed a sweep of the Bruins after a controversial stoppage of the series that led to a change of venue.
The Controversial Game 4
Game 4 began on May 24 at the Boston Garden but did not end until May 26 at the Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton. With the game tied at 3-3, the aging Garden—which would be replaced seven years later by the now-named TD Garden—suffered a power failure when a switchgear failed and the emergency generator did not start. Both teams were sent to the locker rooms, and after a long delay, NHL president John Ziegler Jr. declared the game suspended. The contest was then rescheduled, moved back to Edmonton, and completely re-started as a brand new game at 0-0. The Oilers would go on to win 6-3.
Aftermath and Legacy
Three months later, Oilers owner Peter Pocklington traded Gretzky to the Kings along with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three first-round picks, and $15 million in cash. Within two years, the Oilers won the Stanley Cup again, beating the Bruins after yet another power failure at Boston Garden. Meanwhile, Gretzky would not win another cup before retiring in 1999.
