This road red knit gamer by CCM was worn by Bob Gainey during the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals; thus being the final red jersey he ever wore. Gainey spent his entire playing career as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, totaling 16 seasons with the club. He served as team Captain for the legendary franchise during 8 different seasons in the decade of the 1980’s.

Bob is recognized as one of the greatest defensive forwards in the history of the sport. He was the player called upon to shut down the opposing team’s top scoring line, and was perhaps the most successful player ever at doing so. He was also a relentless penalty killer whose mark was felt as the Habs rolled to title after title.

Bob won 5 Stanley Cup championships in Montreal. He was the winner of the Conn Smythe award for playoff MVP in 1979, thus cementing one of hockey’s greatest all-time dynasties as the Habs won their 4th consecutive Stanley Cup. Gainey was the recipient of the first (4) Frank J. Selke trophies as the best defensive forward in hockey, an award that may have been created to honor Gainey himself. There is never a conversation that discusses the greatest defensive forwards of all time that doesn’t include this man’s name. He is considered by many to be the glue that kept this storied franchise strong as personnel changes were made and a 1970’s dynasty was dismantled. His induction into Hockey’s Hall of Fame came as no surprise to anybody that watched this man play the game.

Proudly sewn to the left breast is the Captain’s “C”. Sewn to the left shoulder of this gamer is the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals patch. This striking road red jersey shows fine game use in the form of stick marks, board burns, board paint transfer, inner pilling and un-repaired burn holes. We would surmise, based on the game wear, that this sweater was worn by Gainey throughout the entire hard fought 1989 playoffs and the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals.

We can trace this gamer back to the early 1990’s when we originally acquired it out of Canada and subsequently placed it in a private collection where it has remained to this very day. Since the NHL began requiring Stanley Cup Finals patches on their game jerseys in 1989, there have been a few notable sets that have eluded collectors. The inaugural year of 1989 would be high atop the list of Stanley Cup Finals gamers that have proved most frustrating for collectors to obtain. To our knowledge, the few known Montreal Canadiens examples that are in circulation in the hobby all stem from the original find of these gems we were fortunate enough to acquire and bring to market some 15 odd years ago. These 1989 Finals gamers still remain on virtually every Stanley Cup collectors want list. You couldn’t ask for much more than Hall of Famer Bob Gainey’s final ever road jersey, with Captain’s “C” and Stanley Cup Finals patch in tow. A Hall of Fame worthy example!