1971 O-Pee-Chee CFL Bob Swift #23 Vintage Base Card Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Description

1971 O-Pee-Chee CFL Bob Swift #23 Vintage Base Card Winnipeg Blue Bombers The 1971 O-Pee-Chee CFL Bob Swift #23 Vintage Base Card Winnipeg Blue Bombers is an especially appealing choice for collectors who appreciate versatile football careers and all-star offensive linemen. The front shows Swift in the Winnipeg uniform with the distinctive red O-Pee-Chee border, large team name, football emblem, and offensive guard/centre position. The classic portrait photography and bright blue, gold, red, and white color scheme give the card a strong vintage appearance. It is an authentic single card from the 1971 Canadian O-Pee-Chee CFL set and provides a memorable snapshot of Swift at the beginning of his Winnipeg Blue Bombers tenure. Swift’s career was unusually versatile. The reverse explains that he played fullback for the BC Lions in 1964, when he rushed for 1,054 yards, before eventually moving into the centre position. It also notes that he was traded to the Bombers with Don Jonas from the Toronto Argonauts. Born in Shawinigan Falls, Quebec, Swift attended Clemson College and became one of the CFL’s best examples of a player successfully changing positions. He won a Grey Cup with the BC Lions in his rookie season and became a centre with Toronto before moving to Winnipeg in 1971. With the Blue Bombers, he earned CFL All-Star recognition in 1971, 1972, and 1974, plus four Western Division All-Star selections from 1971 through 1974. He was also named Winnipeg’s Most Outstanding Canadian and received team honours as an offensive lineman. This background gives card collectors several strong points of interest, including Grey Cup history, Clemson football, Quebec roots, Winnipeg team history, and a celebrated transition from fullback to centre. The reverse is a classic example of the Canadian O-Pee-Chee format. This is a Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back, not a puzzle back. It includes English and French text, a cartoon football illustration, card number, physical details, Clemson College, position, biographical information, O-Pee-Chee branding, and Printed in Canada wording. No obvious crease, wrinkle, or major pressure mark is visible in the supplied photos. The upper corners show light softening and small areas of whitening, while the lower corners are intact with mild rounding and isolated white flecks. The red front border has scattered tiny surface marks and modest edge chipping along the bottom and sides, although the player image and team lettering remain clear. The reverse has warm age toning, minor speckling, and light perimeter roughness without visible writing or major stains. Centering appears approximately 55/45 left to right and close to 50/50 vertically. Fine hairline marks seen across the front may be sleeve reflections because the card remains in a protective pocket. The card presents well, but the visible handling wear supports a conservative Excellent raw grade rather than an EX-MT or near mint estimate. Grade Estimate: EX 5