Esa Tikkanen, a pivotal player in the New York Rangers’ historic 1994 Stanley Cup win, saw his championship ring sold for an impressive $139,444 at Classic Auctions on a thrilling Tuesday night. The sale was a momentous occasion as it was the first time an authentic Rangers player championship ring had ever been made available to the public.
This iconic ring symbolizes the Rangers’ magnificent victory, ending a 54-year wait for another title. It stands as a beacon of rare sports memorabilia, commemorating a significant moment in the team’s history. Tikkanen’s performance was instrumental in the Rangers’ success, with his contribution measurable by being among seven players who tallied more than 20 goals and over 50 points during the remarkable season.
The exorbitant value attached to the ring is primarily driven by its scarcity in the market. Unlike the championship rings from 1933 and 1940, no authentic versions have made their way to public sales. A comparably unique item was a ring presented to Rangers’ center Cliff Smith, which was auctioned for $6,600 in 2017, paling in comparison to the recent sale of Tikkanen’s prized possession.
Tikkanen’s decision to part ways with this treasured item came after having previously sold four out of his five other Stanley Cup rings. The rings from his time with the Oilers in 1987 and 1988 each garnered $40,388 at auctions, while his 1990 Oilers ring fetched an impressive $44,428. However, it was the 1994 Rangers ring that reigned supreme in value, reflecting the team’s limited championship history, having claimed just three Stanley Cups over nearly a century.
The auction of Tikkanen’s ring set pulses racing just four months after a new record was established for Stanley Cup ring sales. Heritage Auctions presented two of Mike Bossy’s New York Islanders championship rings, with the 1981 ring fetching a staggering $228,000 and the 1980 ring not far behind at $220,000. This spectacular display of appreciation for sports history trumped the previous highest-selling Stanley Cup ring, a 1990 Oilers ring formerly owned by Peter Pocklington, which commanded $72,151 at Classic Auctions back in 2009.