On Sept. 30, 2025, Sotheby’s in New York will bring a piece of hockey history to the auction floor, one that carries far more weight than just fabric and stitching.
Is This the Ultimate Piece of Wayne Gretzky Memorabilia?
At the heart of the sale is Wayne Gretzky’s final New York Rangers jersey. He had it on when he skated off NHL ice for the very last time in April of 1999 at Madison Square Garden.
That night wasn’t simply another regular-season game. In the second period, Gretzky set up a teammate for what would become his final career point, an assist that felt like a fitting punctuation mark on a career built on making those around him better.
After the game, he left his own small mark inside the jersey, signing it and adding the date: “4/18/99.”
The jersey has traveled its own path since then. For years, it was displayed in Madison Square Garden’s “Defining Moments” exhibit before moving into private hands, and later it was authenticated through MeiGray’s photomatching service.
Bidding at Sotheby’s has already opened at $280,000, and insiders expect the number to climb quickly once the competition heats up.
Part of what makes this particular sweater stand out is the context. Gretzky wore four different jerseys during that farewell game, but only this one is tied to his last point. That small but powerful distinction is what gives it a special place among collectibles.
Wayne Gretzky’s Legacy Takes the Spotlight
Wayne Gretzky’s career doesn’t need much of a sales pitch.
Over more than two decades, he rewrote the record book in ways that remain untouched: four Stanley Cups in Edmonton, nine league MVP awards, and a career point total so high that even his assists alone would still rank first in NHL history.
His No. 99 became the only number retired across the entire league, a tribute no other player has received.
The auction is part of Sotheby’s “Legends of Sport” series, which places Gretzky’s jersey alongside other iconic memorabilia, from Kobe Bryant’s rookie uniform to Wilt Chamberlain’s 1972 Finals jersey and Jerry West’s 1970 Finals gear. In a nod to the times, even cryptocurrency will be accepted for bids.
For fans, the Gretzky sweater represents far more than a jersey worn in one game. It captures the close of an era where “The Great One” stepped off the ice for good. For collectors, it’s the chance to hold a rare, tangible piece of history that connects them directly to the end of a legendary career.
Even more than two decades after his retirement, Gretzky’s name still carries an unmatched weight. His years in Los Angeles helped open doors for hockey in markets where the game had little to no presence, and many credit him with changing the trajectory of the NHL itself.
