A Curated Auction Series Showcasing Iconic Sports Collectibles From the Greatest Athletes of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Featuring Game-Worn Memorabilia Spanning the Worlds of Hockey, Basketball, Baseball, Football & More.
Series of Sales Led by:
Wayne Gretzky’s ‘Final Career Game’ New York Rangers Jersey Worn During His Final Career Point in His Last Game of the 1998-1999 Season. Estimated To Achieve In Excess of $1 Million
Kobe Bryant’s ‘Number 24 Debut’ Los Angeles Lakers Game Worn Jersey
Worn During His First Game of the 2006–07 NBA season — The Night He Debuted His Now-Legendary No. 24. Estimated To Achieve In Excess of $1 Million.
This month, Sotheby’s will present two highly important game-worn jerseys from two of the most iconic figures in sports history — Wayne Gretzky and Kobe Bryant — each expected to achieve in excess of $1 million.
Both jerseys will be offered in two separate live auctions at Sotheby’s New York on 30 September. Kicking off the evening at 6 PM ET is Wayne Gretzky’s New York Rangers jersey, worn during his final NHL game — a rare and historic opportunity for collectors to acquire a defining artifact from the close of an illustrious hockey career. The auction will be followed by Sotheby’s ‘Legends of Sport’ sale, headlined by Kobe Bryant’s ‘Number 24 Debut’ Los Angeles Lakers jersey, worn during his first game of the 2006–07 NBA season—the night he first stepped onto the court wearing his now-iconic No. 24. Bryant’s jersey will be offered alongside coveted collectibles such as game-worn sneakers by Lionel Messi and Serena Williams, as well as Shohei Ohtani’s 47th home run ball from his 50/50 season.
Both jerseys will be on public exhibition at Sotheby’s New York galleries beginning September 20.
Wayne Gretzky ‘Final Career Game’ New York Rangers Game Worn Jersey
Estimate: In Excess of $1 Million
‘The Great One’ Auction: September 30, 6 PM ET
“Few objects in the history of sport so perfectly embody both the end of an era and the enduring power of a singular career like this New York Rangers jersey from Wayne Gretzky’s final career game. It’s unbelievable to recognize that he wore this for his final career point.”
– Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s Head of Modern Collectibles
This New York Rangers home jersey was worn by Wayne Gretzky — “The Great One” — during the final game of his incomparable NHL career on April 18, 1999, at Madison Square Garden. In this iconic sweater, Gretzky recorded the last point of his storied career, an assist in the second period, before retiring as hockey’s all-time greatest player.
For two decades, Gretzky dominated the NHL, leading the Edmonton Oilers to four Stanley Cup championships and transforming the sport’s popularity in the U.S. with the Los Angeles Kings. By the end of his career, he held an astounding 61 NHL records, including 1,963 assists, 2,857 total points, and a single-season scoring peak of 215 points — records that still stand today.
His final game at Madison Square Garden was a star-studded spectacle that drew a record-breaking 2.16 million viewers, becoming the most-watched broadcast in the history of ‘CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada’ at the time. In the second period, wearing this very jersey, Gretzky recorded his final point: a characteristically unselfish assist on a goal by defenseman Brian Leetch, perfectly capturing the vision, anticipation, and team-first play that defined his career. Although the Rangers lost 2-1 in overtime to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the night was a celebration of Gretzky’s unparalleled career. After the game, players and fans honoured him with a standing ovation as he saluted the crowd.
This jersey stands out not only for its historical significance but also for its direct connection to “The Great One,” having been originally gifted to his agent shortly following the game. After passing through the hands of another private collector, it most recently appeared at auction in 2023, where it was acquired by actor, entrepreneur, and renowned sports collector Rob Gough.
This jersey, signed and inscribed by Gretzky on the interior with the date of his final game “4/18/99,” comes with official provenance from the New York Rangers and MeiGray authentication. According to MeiGray, Gretzky wore four different jerseys that night; this particular one was worn during the second period when he recorded his final NHL point. The jersey was also featured in Madison Square Garden’s “Defining Moments” Museum on the concourse level from 2013-19.
“Few objects in the history of sport so perfectly embody both the end of an era and the enduring power of a singular career like this New York Rangers jersey from Wayne Gretzky’s final career game. It’s unbelievable to recognize that he wore this for his final career point.”
– Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s Head of Modern Collectibles
Kobe Bryant ‘Number 24 Debut’ Los Angeles Lakers Game Worn Jersey
Estimate: In Excess of $1 Million
‘Legends of Sport’ Auction: September 30, 6.15 PM ET
This gold Los Angeles Lakers jersey was worn by Kobe Bryant on November 3, 2006, during his first game of the 2006–07 NBA season where he debuted his now iconic No. 24. After a pivotal offseason marked by personal and professional transformation, Bryant announced the switch from No. 8 to No. 24 — the number he wore in high school — as a symbol of growth, maturity, and a new chapter in his career.
Returning from offseason knee surgery, Bryant wore this very jersey as he led the Los Angeles Lakers to a decisive win over the Seattle Supersonics. Though pacing himself physically, he asserted himself as the undisputed leader of a young Lakers roster, scoring 23 points and setting the tone for a transformative season. He would go on to average 31.6 points per game, earn his second consecutive scoring title, and deliver ten 50-point performances (including two games where he scored over 60 points) — all while wearing No. 24.
A letter from MeiGray accompanies the jersey, confirming the photomatch.
“This jersey is not merely a relic of a single night, but a symbolic artifact from a career that bridged eras and identities. Signed and inscribed to forever link it to the debut of No. 24, it stands as one of the most culturally and historically significant Kobe Bryant jerseys ever to surface — the tangible starting point of a chapter that would help define his legend.”
– Brendan Hawkes, Sotheby’s Sports Strategy and Development
Exhibitions:
Sotheby’s New York
1334 York Avenue
September 20 – 25
www.sothebys.com
Online Auction:
Sneakers & Modern Collectibles (Open for bidding from September 19 – 29)
Live Auction:
The Great One (September 30, 6 PM ET)
Legends of Sport (September 30, 6.15 PM ET)
