In 1988-89, Mario Lemieux led the National League in goals (85), assists (114), points (199), power-play goals (31) and short-handed goals (13) while scoring on 27.2% of his shot attempts. He went on a stretch from November 30, 1988 to December 31, 1988 in which he scored 44 points (20g, 24a) in 15 games averaging 2.93 points-per-game in what was arguably his most impressive scoring stretch of his illustrious career. The Penguins went 10-2-3 over that stretch and occupied first place in the Patrick Division, four points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Lemieux scored or assisted on a remarkable 57.3% of his team's 347 goals and won the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer and was named to the NHL All-Star First Team. His performance helped propel the Penguins to their first Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance in seven years before they were eliminated by the Flyers in seven games in the Patrick Division Final.
This jersey was worn by Mario Lemieux during that amazing stretch in November/December 1988 including seven road games in which he amassed 20 points including seven goals and 13 assists. The jersey has been photo and/or video-matched to all seven Penguins road games from November 25, 1988 at Washington through December 26, 1988 at Hartford.
Mario Lemieux (66) of the Pittsburgh Penguins gets up from the ice in front of Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ron Hextall on December 8, 1988 at The Spectrum in Philadelphia, PA.
Mario Lemieux (66) of the Pittsburgh Penguins battles Gord Murphy (3) of the Philadelphia Flyers for possession of the puck on December 8, 1988 at The Spectrum in Philadelphia, PA.
Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action on December 15, 1988 against the New York Islanders at Nassau County Coliseum in Uniondale, NY.
Mario Lemieux's 1989-90 Topps and O-Pee-Chee hockey cards picture him wearing the jersey on December 23, 1988 at New Jersey.
The jersey was acquired by PenguinsChronicles.com from Lelands.com at auction on June 25, 2005. The jersey was consigned to Lelands.com from a private source. The MeiGray Group, L.L.C., issued a Certificate of Registration into the MeiGrade System as No. 130103.