The auction is sure to appeal to many fans who just last week cheered the return of the Stanley Cup to their hometown.
In 1961, Chicagoans witnessed their beloved Blackhawks, led by sports legends Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita, win the Stanley Cup for the first time in 29 years, beating the Detroit Red Wings 5-1. It was the first championship for the city since 1947, when the Chicago Cardinals won the National Football League title, and unfortunately the last Stanley Cup title the 'Hawks would win for another 49 years.
The 1961 win was commemorated by a stunning championship banner that hung in the old Chicago Stadium until 1994, when the stadium was torn down to make way for the United Center. A highly publicized auction of the stadium's contents was held by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, with the banner being among the highlights drawing significant attention and competitive bidding. The winning bid of $15,000 came from restaurant owner, Gus Cappas, who proudly hung the banner in his Glenview restaurant, McMahons Steakhouse.
The banner will be sold in a single item, online-only sale Tuesday, July 16, at 6pm, and will be on display at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers during regular business hours up to the date of the sale. Interested parties may contact Mary Kohnke at 312.334.4235 or marykohnke@lesliehindman.com for more information and can sign up to bid live online or leave a presale bid at www.lesliehindman.com.
