Let's not jump to conclusions with Paul Henderson jersey

By Russ Cohen

It’s an age-old debate. When a precious jersey or piece of memorabilia goes up for sale, why shouldn’t a card company have a chance at purchasing said item to use it however it sees fit?

Right now, the famous Game No. 8, 1972 Paul Henderson Summit Series jersey is up for grabs and the high bid is more than $131,000 with a minimum set at $142,000 and just under 25 days remaining. So with that much being bid, some people already are insisting that a trading card company has to be the bidder with deep pockets and that it is surely getting ready to cut up the jersey.

Here is the problem that I have. The first issue is Classic Auctions has put this item up for sale as somebody wanted to sell. If every fan wants every one of these items in the Hockey Hall of Fame then they should each invest a certain amount of money to make sure that they win the jersey and then donate it.

Why didn’t Henderson donate it?

Again, critics cite the Vezina pads issue, and once again I say these items would never go up for sale if those people or families would just hold on to the item or sell them privately to a collector. Then, there is no guarantee a company wouldn’t get ahold of it but then some people would be able to sleep better at night.

I understand what that game represents to Canadian hockey fans and the fact that Canada beat the Russians in a spectacular fashion, but at the end of the day the owner of that jersey is the one who has set everything in motion. As it turns out Henderson gave the jersey to the trainer as a gift and he sold it. Read more about it by clicking here.

Some of the proceeds will be donated to charity, but if that person wants to make a buck Henderson could have prevented this by holding on to this cherished item. He did donate some items to the Hockey Hall from that series so that will have to do.

We’ll see what ultimately happens to this artifact — if it gets sold to a hockey card company, and they cut it up, then the person who got it as a gift is to blame or the person he sold it to.

The seller wishes to remain anonymous — so that’s where this story ends.