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The 1980 USA hockey team played what could be called the most memorable game in hockey history. So significant was the game that Sports Illustrated voted it as the greatest moment in sports. It also captured the imagination of the whole nation, which at the time was reeling from the stressful 70s. It was also the game that made the chant 'U-S-A! U-S-A!' popular, which has since been the rallying cry in many international games. No wonder memorabilia related to the 1980 USA hockey team are very much sought-after.
Why they matter
In an era where the playing field was dominated by the Soviets, the 1980 USA hockey team were never considered a threat. It was very unlikely that the US Olympic team, composed of collegiate and amateur hockey players, could ever hope to win against the heavily-favored Soviet Union team.
Of the 12 teams that joined the competition at Lake Placid, New York, the US team was seeded 7th. Two years before the competition, the Soviet team had won against the NHL All-Stars for the Challenge Cup. The score? 6-0. In an exhibitions game in 1980, the Soviets also scored 5-3-1 against the National Hockey League teams. They were also manned by some of the most legendary hockey players in history, including team captain Boris Mikhailov and goalie Vladislav Tretiak.
Another factor that added to the excitement of the US vs. USSR game was the Cold War, where the US and the Soviet Union had an uneasy and long-standing participation. It also helped that during an exhibition match 13 days before the actual competition, the Soviet Reds defeated the Americans 10-3. A column in the New York Times said that unless a miracle is performed by the US or another team, the Soviets were expected to take home the gold medal.
But history was going to be written differently. Under the tough guidance of coach Herb Brooks and the leadership of team captain Mike Eruzione, the US team scored: the first point from Buzz Schneider, two from Mark Johnson and the last from Eruzione himself. The US team went on to win the gold medal.
A piece of the Miracle
One of the most popular 1980 USA hockey team collectible is a group-signed jersey, valued at about $1,300.00. It includes signatures from Eruzione, Craig, Johnson, Schneider, Neal Broten, Steve Christoff, Dave Silk, Phil Verchota, Mike Ramsey, Ken Morrow, Mark Pavelich and 9 other players. The jersey comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Steiner Sports, one of the most respected and reliable authenticators of sports items and memorabilia.
Hand-signed jerseys are probably the most expensive collectibles from the 1980 US hockey team, with prices over $1000. Hockey sticks are also highly-coveted and are in the same price range.
While Mike Eruzione and Mark Johnson stirred the crowd for their scoring, it was goalie Jim Craig who bore the brunt of the Soviets' attacks and kept them at bay through his strong defense. This makes any Craig-signed memorabilia special. An example is a Miracle on Ice puck priced at about $80 and a hand-signed photograph of Craig draped in the American flag after the US team won the gold medal against Finland. The photos are limited edition 8" x 10" size and comes with a COA from Grandstand Sports & Memorabilia. It is priced at $130.
Another memorable collectible from the 1980 US hockey team is a photo showing the team crowding the podium during the awards ceremony. It's hand-signed by 20 team members and includes a certified hologram and COA. There are also hand-signed pucks by individual players that cost from $70 to $80.
Another great collectible is the reprint of the New York Times front page dated February 25, 1980 with the headline, 'USA Hockey Victory Stirs Celebration'. This was printed 3 days after the US defeated the Soviet team and a day after they defeated Finland to win the Gold Medal. The item costs about $90.
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For more information about authentic autographed sports memorabilia and collectibles, visit [http://www.sportscollectionz.com] . Read articles from contributing writers in our blog site at http://sportscollectionz.wordpress.com
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