Wayne Gretzky Indianapolis Racers WHA Signed Hockey Jersey! UPPER Deck (UDA)

Rare Wayne Gretzky Autographed Indianapolis Racers WHA Throwback Jersey. Upper Deck Authenticated - Limited Edition 171/250. A n exceptional and historically significant Wayne Gretzky autographed Indianapolis Racers throwback hockey jersey, commemorating the remarkably brief beginning of "The Great One's" professional hockey career. Before Edmonton, before the Stanley Cups, before the NHL records and before #99 became the most famous number in hockey, there were the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association.

In June 1978, at only 17 years of age, Wayne Gretzky signed a professional contract with Indianapolis Racers owner Nelson Skalbania. The WHA provided Gretzky an opportunity to turn professional before he was eligible to enter the NHL, making Indianapolis the first professional hockey team of his legendary career. His stay in Indianapolis would become one of hockey's great "what might have been" stories. Gretzky appeared in just eight games for the Racers, recording three goals and three assists for six points.

With the Indianapolis franchise experiencing severe financial difficulties, Skalbania dealt Gretzky, goaltender Eddie Mio and forward Peter Driscoll to the Edmonton Oilers on November 2, 1978. The Racers themselves ceased operations only weeks later, on December 15.

Gretzky completed the 1978-79 WHA season with Edmonton, finishing with 46 goals, 64 assists and 110 points and earning WHA Rookie of the Year honors. When Edmonton entered the NHL the following season, Gretzky came with them - and one of the greatest careers in the history of professional sports was underway. Offered here is an especially desirable tribute to that nearly forgotten Indianapolis chapter: a high-quality, limited-edition Indianapolis Racers #99 throwback jersey, personally autographed by Wayne Gretzky in black marker across the upper portion of the large sewn Racers crest. The jersey is impressively constructed with extensive sewn and embroidered decoration, including the large vintage Indianapolis Racers crest, red and blue shoulder and sleeve detailing, sewn #99 sleeve numerals and an embroidered Captain's C. " The "C is part of the commemorative presentation of this throwback jersey and should not be interpreted as a representation that this was Gretzky's actual game-issued Racers jersey.

Adding considerably to its importance is its connection to Upper Deck Authenticated (UDA). This limited-edition Racers series is associated with Wayne Gretzky's first signing with Upper Deck Authenticated, placing it among the earlier generation of premium UDA Gretzky memorabilia. Upper Deck established UDA in 1992 and pioneered a witnessed-signing authentication system in which serialized holograms were applied directly to signed memorabilia.

The jersey retains its original Upper Deck Authenticated serialized hologram, BAF99220, affixed directly to the Racers crest. It is also individually hand-numbered 171/250, making this one of only 250 examples produced in the limited-edition series. Other documented examples from this same 250-piece Indianapolis Racers edition have appeared at major sports-memorabilia auctions, confirming the limited nature of the production. Gretzky's autograph presents exceptionally well, with a clean, pristine black signature prominently positioned on the white portion of the Racers crest.

Combined with the striking vintage red, white and blue design, oversized embroidered crest and extremely limited production, the jersey has tremendous display presence. What makes this piece especially compelling is the story it represents. Most Gretzky memorabilia celebrates Edmonton, Los Angeles or the countless records established during his NHL career.

Indianapolis represents the beginning - eight games played by a 17-year-old professional whose future greatness was still ahead of him. That extraordinarily short stay has made Racers-related Gretzky material particularly fascinating to serious collectors. A tremendous conversation piece and a centerpiece worthy of a Hall of Fame-caliber hockey collection - connecting Wayne Gretzky directly to the very first chapter of his professional career. IMPORTANT: This is a limited-edition commemorative/throwback Indianapolis Racers jersey and is not represented as game-worn, game-used, game-issued or an original 1978 Gretzky jersey. The original Upper Deck Authenticated hologram is affixed directly to the jersey. No Upper Deck certificate, additional paperwork or original presentation box accompanies this lot. Please review all photographs carefully for condition, construction, autograph placement, limited-edition numbering and authentication hologram.