Ken Morrow

Where were you on February 22, 1980?

This jersey was in Lake Placid, NY, on the back of defenseman Ken Morrow, one of the key cogs of the 1980 US Men's Olympic Hockey Team and a central contributor to the Miracle On Ice.

Morrow was wearing this white mesh Norcon jersey when Team USA shocked the Soviets, 4-3, en route to the gold medal in Men's Hockey.

Did you believe in miracles? The upset of the century in the first game of the medal round stunned the world and led the Americans to one of the most miraculous triumphs in the history of sports. It was the United States' first goal medal in hockey since 1960.

Ken Morrow Team USA 1980 Winter Olympic Game-Worn Jersey, Front

Ken Morrow Team USA 1980 Winter Olympic Game-Worn Jersey, Back

Front Wear

Crest

Norcon Tagging

Sleeve Number

Shoulder Star

Back Wear

Nameplate

Sleeve Wear

Side Wear

Photo-Match

Clearly evident is the mark next to the seam, and the separated mark on the front of the jersey.

Distinct hockey stick-shaped mark on back of jersey.

Provenance

This jersey remained in Ken Morrow's possession from the time he wore it until he consigned it to Classic Auctions, where it was auctioned on February 22, 2012 as the highlight of the Ken Morrow Collection. The auction also included the gloves and skates Morrow wore in the "Miracle on Ice" game, Morrow's 1983 New York Islanders Stanley Cup Finals game-worn jersey, his home and road Bowling Green University game-worn jerseys, and other hockey memoribilia collected by Morrow through the years of his distinguished NCAA, Olympic and NHL career.

Auction Catalog Cover

Auction Listing Lot 431

Classic Auctions Letter of Authentication Page 1

Classic Auctions Letter of Authentication Page 2

MeiGray Vintage Report

The 1980 US Olympic Hockey team played 61 exhibition games in preparation for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Team USA wore two different style white jerseys in these exhibition games. The style worn in the Lake Placid Games was only worn in the 1980 Winter Olympics, as seen below:

Style worn early in the exhibition season.

Style worn for the majority of the exhibition season, including the 10-3 loss to the Soviet Union at Madison Square Garden in New York on February 9, 1980. This game was the last exhibition game played by Team USA prior to the start of the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Style worn in 1980 Winter Olympics.

The US Olympic Team played in 7 games during the XIII Olympic Winter Games in February 1980. They wore their white jerseys in the following four games:
February 14, 1980, 7-3 win over Czechoslovakia at the Olympic Field House.
February 16, 1980, 5-1 win over Norway at the Olympic Arena
February 20, 1980, 4-2 win over West Germany at the Olympic Field House.
February 22, 1980, 4-3 win over the Soviet Union at the Olympic Field House, first game of the medal round.

The jerseys were manufactured by Norcon MFG. Co. of Forest Lake, MN. The jerseys were tagged in the neck and front left hem (as seen in the photo on the right). Based on photographic and video examination, most players' jerseys had the front Norcon tag removed. A few remained intact throughout the Olympics.

The Norcon tagging, USA across the front, nameplate, white stars sewn to shoulders, cross-over collar, tackle-twill numbers, jersey stitching, and the detailed design match exactly to two other 1980 US Olympic game-worn jerseys we have examined: The jersey worn by Dave Christian, which resides at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto; and the jersey worn by Mark Wells, which is owned by a private collector and has been authenticated by MeiGray.

MeiGray knows of only two other jerseys worn in the Miracle of Ice that have been sold publicly: The jersey worn by captain Mike Eruzione, and the jersey worn by Mark Pavelich. Photos of those jerseys examined by MeiGray match the characteristics of the Morrow, Christian and Wells jerseys.

The Morrow jersey has been photo-matched to Getty Images number 52286889. This photo was taken on February 22, 1980 during the US Olympic Team's 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union at the XIII Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, NY.

Norcon tag on front left hem of jersey.