Four Stanley Cup rings – owned by the Islanders team lawyer during their unprecedented run of glory – go under an auctioneer’s hammer Monday in Manhattan.
The Championship bling, from 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983 all have engraved words “Stanley Cup Champions” and “Frease” – for the rings’ appropriately named owner, Belden Frease, according to Upper East Side auction house Doyle.
Frease, 78, died on Jan. 16. of a rare cancer, according to the Princeton Alumni Weekly.
And his historic rings have been sitting on ice for the last decade.
“Mrs. Frease thought it was just time to move them along,” said Norman Scrivener, Doyle’s specialist for coins and collectibles. “She wanted to pass them along to someone who would appreciate them. They’ve been sitting in a bank vault for the last 10 years.”
The Islanders are still the only US team to hoist Lord Stanley’s famed cup for four consecutive years.
Doyle had considered selling all four rings in one lot – and could still, if someone makes a knocks-your-skates-off offer for them all before Monday afternoon.
But for now, Doyle hopes to attract more bidders by selling in four lots.
The 1980 ring is expected to score between $3,000 and $5,000; 1981 for $4,000-$6,000; 1982 for $5,000-$7,000 and 1983 $7,000-$9,000.
“There was some consideration grouping it as one lot – but we just decided this (four separate sales) gives multiple people a chance to participate in the auction,” Scrivener said.
The slight difference in estimated prices are based on the rings’ weight, according to Scrivener.
The 1983 ring has 14-karat diamonds while the other three are 10-karat.
Doyle sold a 1982 Stanley Cup ring earlier this year for $8,250. It belonged to late Mets owner, and Isles investor, Nelson Doubleday.