1971-72 O-Pee-Chee Bill Collins #139 Detroit Red Wings Hockey Card

Description

1971-72 O-Pee-Chee Bill Collins #139 Detroit Red Wings Hockey Card Step back into a classic era of National Hockey League history with this vintage hockey card featuring defensive specialist Bill Collins during his tenure with the Detroit Red Wings. The 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee hockey set remains highly celebrated by sports card enthusiasts for its iconic arching team text design, sharp team emblems, and vibrant colored oval backgrounds that perfectly reflect the aesthetic charm of the early 1970s. This specific card represents a wonderful piece of hockey memorabilia, showcasing Bill Collins in his clean white Detroit Red Wings sweater. Collins was widely respected across the league as an excellent penalty killer and a versatile forward who could anchor a line with defensive responsibility while providing clutch offensive depth, as evidenced by his solid statistics tracked over several decades of professional hockey. This particular item features a premium Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back design which showcases player biographical information and narrative text blocks written in both English and French languages, a unique hallmark that makes Canadian hockey cards highly distinct from their American Topps counterparts. In evaluating the condition of this piece, the centering is noticeably shifted toward the upper right side, a very common production issue found throughout this specific mid-century print run. The corners show mild soften wear consistent with careful handling over the years, though they retain good structural integrity without major layering or deep bends. The card edges show light chipping along the borders but avoid deep distracting scuffs, while the surface color preserves a high level of its original gloss and print ink definition. The reverse side features the classic light green background with clean, clear text tracking the player statistics without any ink marks or major staining. Based on these specific physical characteristics, this card qualifies for a conservative Grade Estimate: EX 5