1969-70 O-Pee-Chee Bob Barlow #196 Rookie Card Minnesota North Stars VG-EX 4

Description

1969-70 O-Pee-Chee Bob Barlow #196 Rookie Card Minnesota North Stars VG-EX 4 The 1969-70 O-Pee-Chee Bob Barlow #196 Rookie Card Minnesota North Stars VG-EX 4 captures one of hockey’s great perseverance stories just before an unforgettable NHL debut. Barlow is shown in a full-length skating pose wearing number 14 for Minnesota, with the set’s wood-grain stick graphic, bold red team lettering, and blue wing medallion completing the unmistakable late 1960s look. The card was issued when he was already 34 years old and before he had appeared in an NHL game, making it a fascinating rookie that does not follow the usual young-prospect formula. Bob Barlow had spent more than a decade starring in professional minor leagues, including prominent time in the Western Hockey League and American Hockey League. He captained the Vancouver Canucks of the WHL in 1968-69 before Minnesota acquired his rights. When he finally debuted for the North Stars in October 1969, he became the oldest NHL rookie of his time. His arrival immediately produced a remarkable piece of hockey trivia: Barlow scored on his first NHL shot, only six seconds into his first shift, beating Philadelphia goaltender Bernie Parent. That lightning-fast first goal remains the type of record that makes a seemingly modest vintage card far more memorable. Barlow ultimately played 77 NHL games for Minnesota, then later appeared in the World Hockey Association with the Phoenix Roadrunners. His broader professional career stretched across multiple leagues and more than two decades. The reverse of card 196 emphasizes that he had never yet reached the NHL despite being a proven minor-league star, providing a wonderful time-capsule contrast with what happened shortly after publication. It includes a bilingual cartoon about his goal-scoring success in Seattle. This is the Canadian O-Pee-Chee version with English and French text and Printed in Canada. It is not a puzzle back. The front is visually balanced, with approximate 54/46 left-to-right centering and good placement within the cream border. The four corners show moderate rounding and small amounts of exposed fibre, most noticeably at the upper-left and lower-left. Light edge chipping is distributed along the top and bottom, and the front surface shows scattered fine scratches, print specks, and mild handling wear. A small wrinkle appears near the upper-right border, but no bold central crease is clearly visible. The back has softened corners, perimeter whitening, minor scratches, and abrasion along the lower edge, while its text and illustration remain strong. The protective sleeve creates some reflective lines, so unseen fine surface defects remain possible. A conservative VG-EX 4 estimate reflects the card’s pleasing colour, readable back, and absence of a clearly dominant crease, while accounting for corner rounding, edge wear, and scattered surface marks. This is an excellent story card for a North Stars collection and a distinctive rookie of a player whose first NHL shift became part of hockey lore. Grade Estimate: VG-EX 4