1971 O-Pee-Chee Lanny Boleski #120 Calgary Stampeders CFL

Description

1971 O-Pee-Chee Lanny Boleski #120 Calgary Stampeders CFL This 1971 O-Pee-Chee Lanny Boleski card, number 120, offers collectors a standout Calgary Stampeders offensive tackle during one of the most dependable phases of his career. Boleski is shown in a red number 63 home jersey, looking squarely into the camera against a stadium backdrop, with the set’s bold red border and Stampeders branding creating strong visual shelf appeal. The bilingual reverse identifies him as a non-import tackle listed at 6 feet 4 and 240 pounds, a University of Wyoming graduate, and a product of Calgary junior football programs. That local connection makes the card especially meaningful to Stampeders fans because Boleski was not simply an import passing through; he was a Calgary-developed player who became a regular in 1966 and developed into one of the league’s respected blockers. The back states that by the time this card was issued, he was considered one of the best offensive tackles in the CFL and had been named to W. F. C. All-Star teams in 1969 and 1970. In an era before massive television contracts and sophisticated pass-rush statistics, offensive linemen earned recognition through game film, opponent respect, and all-star votes, so those selections carry real weight. Boleski’s card therefore represents the grind of CFL line play and the importance of Canadian talent in the league’s roster structure. It also pairs naturally with the Basil Bark card as a reminder of Calgary’s rebuilding and refining along the offensive line in the early 1970s. This is the standard Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual English and French card back, printed in Canada, with the cartoon biography and not a puzzle back. The front has a light touch at the top-left corner, a softer top-right tip, and minor rounding at both bottom corners; the edges are mostly clean with only tiny red-border flecks, and the photo is approximately 50/50 with a slight shift toward the left. The reverse is clean and shows no writing, stains, creases, or paper loss, though the corner contacts are consistent with normal vintage handling. A conservative EX 5 grade fits because the card has strong color and no major structural damage, but the corner wear is too visible for an Excellent-Mint designation. It would work well in a Stampeders team set, a University of Wyoming football collection, or as an original answer for 1971 O-Pee-Chee Lanny Boleski #120 Calgary Stampeders CFL. Grade Estimate: EX 5