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1980 U.S. hockey hero selling flag, gold medal, jersey for $5.7M

By Doug G. Ware
Jim Craig's 1980 men's hockey jersey (pictured) is among the items up for sale at Lelands.com auction house. It is valued at $1 million. Photo: Lelands.com
1 of 4 | Jim Craig's 1980 men's hockey jersey (pictured) is among the items up for sale at Lelands.com auction house. It is valued at $1 million. Photo: Lelands.com

CHICAGO, July 30 (UPI) -- A key player involved in one of the most triumphant American sporting victories in history is selling memorabilia from that achievement -- for nearly $6 million.

Jim Craig, the goalie for the United States 1980 Olympic hockey team, is offering 19 different items in the package, called the "Jim Craig 'Miracle on Ice' Collection," auction house Lelands.com announced Wednesday.

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Craig was the team's starting goalie when it upset the vaunted Soviet Union in the men's hockey semifinal at the Lake Placid, N.Y., games in 1980 -- a victory simply called now the "Miracle on Ice."

Among the items Craig is selling are his gold medal, his game-used jersey, a hockey stick and the American flag he famously wrapped himself in following the victory over the Soviets.

Craig is selling the items, for a price of $5.7 million, to better secure his family's financial future, Lelands said.

The flag and the gold medal are appraised at about $1 million each.

The items are now on display in Chicago at the National Sports Collectors Convention.

Craig isn't the first player from the 1980 hockey team to sell memorabilia. Teammates Mike Eruzione, Mark Wells and Mark Pavelich have previously sold items from the famous games at Lake Placid.

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Craig stopped 36 of 39 shots taken by the Soviet team during the famous game and instantly became a national sports hero. He later played for Atlanta, Boston and Minnesota in the National Hockey League between 1980 and 1984.

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