Bobby Orr 1969-70 O-Pee-Chee 24

The back of Bobby Orr's 1969-70 O-Pee-Chee #24 hockey card says he scores like a forward. Well, if you could transport back in time to 1969, you would have no idea how true that statement was. The card celebrates his 1968-69 season when Orr scored 21 and totalled 64 points. In 1969-70, that point total nearly doubled and he did the unthinkable for a defenseman. Orr would lead the National Hockey League in scoring in 1969-70, earning the Art Ross Trophy.

This vintage hockey card is also featured at our online collection: Bobby Orr 1969-70 O-Pee-Chee 24

1969-70 O-Pee-Chee 24

This hockey card followed up Bobby's third year in the NHL. O-Pee-Chee refers to him as the NHL's Mr. Everything, a title they would give him several times more in the years to come. The back of the card also states that he's already won more hardware that most players would receive in an entire career. That trophy count would more than double with his 1969-70 season.

As per the back of the 1969-70 O-Pee-Chee #24 hockey card:

Age means nothing to Bobby Orr. He's already the NHL's “Mr. Everything,” and has won more trophies in three seasons than most players manage in a career. He scores like a forward and has been able to rebound from injuries.

Bobby Orr 1968-69

In 1968-69, Orr scored an, at the time, respectable 21 goals along with 43 assists for 64 points over 67 games. Not quite to the standard the following year would bring, Bobby appeared in the top ten only for his 133 penalty minutes, a career high. He was ninth in the NHL for PIM. His only personal accolade was the Norris Trophy as top defenseman, his second of eight consecutive.

The Bruins swept the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Boston outscored Toronto 24-5 on the series, powered by 10-0 and 7-0 shutouts in the first two games. The team then lost in the semi-finals to the eventual champions, the Montreal Canadiens, in six games. However, the Bruins outscored the Habs 16-15 on the series with games one, two and six decided in overtime. In fact, game six went halfway through the second overtime period before Montreal ended it.

For Boston, it was their first playoff series win since 1957-58. That year, they beat out the New York Rangers in the semi-finals before losing to the powerful Canadiens in the finals. Orr didn't disappoint in the playoffs with eight points over the ten games.

Bobby Orr 1969-70

 

The hockey world was turned upside down in 1969-70. Bobby set standards that were simply unheard of. Over 76 games, he scored 33 and assisted on 87 for 125 points. He led the league in points, 21 more than second place Phil Esposito. He led the league in assists, 31 more than his teammate Esposito. Even his 33 goals tied him for eighth in the NHL with Red Berenson of the St. Louis Blues and Dave Balon of the New York Rangers. His 125 penalty minutes were good for ninth in the league.

Along with the Art Ross Trophy, Orr took home the Art Ross Trophy as MVP, the Norris Trophy as top blue liner and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. The Bruins won the Stanley Cup, sweeping the St. Louis Blues in the finals. It was Boston's first Cup win since 1940-41. Bobby scored nine and assisted on eleven for 20 points over 14 playoff games.

Bobby Orr 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee 30

The 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee number 30 hockey card belongs to Bobby Orr. This is Orr's only card in the set, a rarity. The front has his image with the All-Star crest with it noted that he was a 1972-73 NHL East All-Star. Interestingly, the card shows Bobby at 185 lbs, down ten pounds from what was stated on his 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee hockey card.

On the back of 1973-74 OPC #30, it notes that 'Bobby married a school teacher this past summer.' In fact, he was engaged to Peggy Wood, a speech therapist in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the time, on December 25, 1972. The two were indeed married in September, 1973 in Parry Sound, Ontario.

 

 

Bobby Orr 1972-73

A bit of an off season, as far as Bobby Orr goes. He appeared in just 63 regular season games but still managed 101 points on 29 goals and 72 assists. He finished second in the NHL for assists, three behind teammate Phil Esposito and five ahead of Bobby Clarke of the Philadelphia Flyers. Orr finished third in the race for the Art Ross Trophy, 29 points behind Esposito, three behind Clarke and one points ahead of Clarke's Philadelphia teammate Rick MacLeish.

Bobby came away with just the Norris Trophy in 1972-73. The Bruins were feeling the effects of Gerry Cheevers exodus to the World Hockey Association. Boston managed a second place finish in the 14 team National Hockey League, behind just the Montreal Canadiens. Tom Johnson was replaced by Bep Guidolin midseason as head coach.

Boston met up with the New York Rangers in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It did not go as planned with the Bruins falling to the Rangers in five games. Boston was outscored by New York 22-11 on the series. Orr had a subpar playoff round with just two points over the five games.

As per the back of the Bobby Orr 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee hockey card:

Winner of the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman for six straight seasons, an all-time record, bobby is destined to be one of the game's greatest players. He is tremendously popular with young fans.

Bobby Orr 1973-74

 

 

1973-74 was a bounce back season for both Orr and the Bruins. Over 74 games, he scored 32 and assisted on 90 for 122 points. Once again, Bobby was limited to the Norris Trophy when it came to accolades. He led the NHL in assists and was second in overall scoring, behind Esposito's 145 point performance.

Boston finished first overall during the regular season. In the playoffs, the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup finals before falling in six games to the Philadelphia Flyers. Over 16 playoff games, Orr scored four and assisted on 14 for 18 points.

Bobby Orr 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee 100

The 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee number 100 hockey card records and celebrates what can be considered one of Bobby Orr's greatest seasons on an individual level. However, as a team, the Boston Bruins were a massive disappointment to their fans and themselves in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The card refers to his 1969-70 season when he won four major National Hockey League awards. Orr won the Norris Trophy as top defenseman, the Hart Trophy as MVP, The Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's top scorer and the Conn Smythe Trophy as Stanley Cup playoffs MVP. This feat has never been matched to this day.

 

Bobby Orr 1970-71

Playing the full 78 game regular season schedule for the Bruins, Orr put up unreachable numbers for a defenseman with 37 goals and 102 assists for 139 points. In pre Rocket Richard Trophy days, he tied for eighth in goal scoring with Yvan Cournoyer of the Montreal Canadiens.

Bobby led the league in assists, a whopping 26 more than second place Phil Esposito. He was second in the race for the Art Ross Trophy behind Esposito's 152 points, an amazing NHL record number at the time.

His +124 set an NHL record and has been untouched to this day. Orr's assist total and point total remain single season records for defensemen. He was the first NHL player to top the 100 assist mark in a season with just Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux joining him. In 1970-71, Orr was awarded the Hart Trophy as MVP and the Norris Trophy as top blue liner.

The Bruins had an outstanding regular season and were favoured to easily win the Stanley Cup. However, in the opening round, the were bounced in seven games by the Montreal Canadiens. Boston held a 3-2 lead after five games but dropped the final two matches to the Habs.

Over the tight series, the Bruins were outscored just 28-26. The Canadiens would go on to capture the Stanley Cup championship, taking out the Chicago Blackhawks in the finals.

As per the back of the Bobby Orr 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee hockey card:

What to do for an encore is the yearly problem facing Bobby. First All-Star choice 4 straight years. Only man to win 4 league awards in one season. Holds record for defensemen with 37 goals. Scored goal which gave Boston Stanley Cup in 1970. A superstar when he was just 20.

Bobby Orr 1971-72

 

 

Offensive numbers were down with the Bruins after their record breaking season but the end achievement was what they were looking for. Over 76 regular season games, Bobby scored 37 and assisted on 80 for 117 points. Despite the drop from the previous season, he still led the league in assists with a cushion of 13 over the next player. He was second in points, 16 behind teammate Phil Esposito.

The Bruins won their second Stanley Cup in the three years, taking out the New York Rangers in six games in the finals. Bobby had a stellar playoffs with 24 points on five goals and 19 assists over 15 games. He was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP to go with his Hart Trophy and Norris Trophy selections.

Bobby Orr 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee 100 [YouTube Shorts]

Bobby Orr 1976-77 O-Pee-Chee 213

The 1976-77 O-Pee-Chee number 213 is the first hockey card showing Bobby Orr with the Chicago Blackhawks. The image on the front does not truly show him with his new team. Instead, the picture is from his Boston Bruins days and is doctored heavily with airbrushing.

Bobby Orr 1975-76

In his final year with the Bruins, Orr managed to play in just ten games due to his ongoing knee problems. However, over those ten games, Bobby was a tear. He scored five and assisted on 13 for 18 points.

If he'd appeared in all 80 games, he was on pace for 104 assists and 144 points and would have led the league in both categories. In reality, Bobby Clarke of the Philadelphia Flyers led the National Hockey League with 89 assists and Guy Lafleur of the Montreal Canadiens won the Art Ross Trophy with 125 points.

1975-76 was the first time since 1966-67 that Bobby Orr's name was not engraved on the Norris Trophy. Instead, Denis Potvin of the New York Islanders was named the NHL's top defenseman. The last player to win before Bobby's eight year run was Harry Howell of the New York Rangers.

Don Cherry's Bruins still finished third overall, despite the loss of their top blue liner. Boston reached the semi-finals before bowing out to the Flyers. Philadelphia would then be swept in the Stanley Cup finals by the Canadiens.

As per the back of the 1976-77 O-Pee-Chee #213 Bobby Orr hockey card:

Despite his knee injuries, Bobby is destined to be one of hockey's all-time greatest performers. He won the Norris Trophy as best defenseman eight times in a row.

Bobby Orr 1976-77

 

 

In his debut season with the Blackhawks, Orr doubled his 1975-76 game total, playing in 20. Over those 20 games, he scored four and assisted on 19 for 23 points. He was on pace for nearly 80 assists over a full 80 game schedule. Guy Lafleur led the league with 80. Even playing just 20 games, Bobby had two more assists than teammate Dennis Hull. Hull appeared in 75 games.

Orr didn't appear in the post season for Chicago. The Blackhawks finished third in the lowly Smythe Division with just 63 points. They were tied with the Vancouver Canucks but squeeked into the playoffs with one more win. The team played just two games in the Stanley Cup playoffs, swept by the New York Islanders in the preliminary round.

Bobby spent time behind the Chicago bench over his lengthy injury time. He served as assistant coach, along with player/assistant Stan Mikita. Billy Reay started the year as head coach but was replaced by Bill White 35 games into the season.