This magnificent and mind-numbingly rare team jacket of the long-defunct New York Americans hockey team is in such splendid condition; it's as if Newsy Lalonde, Busher Jackson and Hap Day never rode that great Zamboni into the sky. This gorgeous plum-colored jacket is from 1935 to 1938 which is the period just before they started using cloth jackets. Few such pieces of memorabilia are left to rekindle the short saga of the Americans, who wore the jacket with enormous pride as the Big Apple's first NHL team. The Americans would endure only until 1942. But while they were here, they looked sharp as hell in the jacket, which has the oh-so-rare team patch -- "New York Americans" in white on blue around a circular core of crossed sticks, a puck and three stars in red -- stitched onto the left breast, above a dashing green button-down pocket with six white stars. Seven caramel-colored buttons down the front, white neckband, blue waistband, three-band green and white leather stripes on right sleeve. Black and gold interior neck tag from "Alex Taylor Athletic Supplies." Exterior of the jacket is superior, the suede vibrant and smooth with no significant visible flaws, while the interior displays staining on the underside of the buttonhole section and milder staining and tearing up by the back of the collar. Still, for its age the jacket is a marvel.