1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Lou Angotti #243 Chicago Black Hawks

Description

1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Lou Angotti #243 Chicago Black Hawks Complete your Chicago run with this 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Lou Angotti #243 Chicago Black Hawks high number card honoring one of the most popular and versatile characters on the early seventies roster. For set builders, high numbers are the challenge, and number 243 sits deep in the series where fewer pristine copies survived the handling of the era, making a clean raw example particularly appealing. For Black Hawks fans who remember the chants of Lou Lou Lou around Chicago Stadium, this card captures the veteran forward turned defensive stalwart in his second tour with the Hawks, presented with the classic O-Pee-Chee beige border and bright blue field that makes this set a visual standout. Lou Angotti carved a unique path through hockey history. After starring at Michigan Tech, he debuted with the New York Rangers, became the first captain in Philadelphia Flyers history during their 1967 expansion season, and then returned to Chicago where his steady two way play and engaging personality made him a fan favorite. By 1972-73 he was in his second tenure with the Hawks, valued for his ability to play center or wing, kill penalties, and spark the crowd with energy on every shift. The biography on this card back celebrates his popularity, noting he is one of the most popular players with Hawks fans and that the cheering of Lou Lou Lou echoes through the Stadium, a detail that captures the authentic atmosphere of the time. Angotti later transitioned to coaching, leading the St. Louis Blues and remaining a respected hockey mind, a journey that adds post playing interest to his cards. This O-Pee-Chee number 243 is a true high number, short printed relative to low numbers and often found with extra wear because it was nearer the end of the print sheet. The front portrait shows Angotti smiling in the white road sweater, while the reverse features the orange vertical panel with vital statistics, a cartoon noting he was a good defensive forward, bilingual English and French text, and a full NHL Career Record spanning his time with New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. This is a Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back with English and French text, not a Topps single language or puzzle back, and is marked PRINTED IN CANADA, the defining attribute that elevates O-Pee-Chee high numbers among Canadian collectors. The front presents with centering that is slightly left heavy at roughly 65/35 left to right and 60/40 top to bottom but retains a complete border on all sides, corners show light to moderate softness with a gentle rounding at the upper right and a faint touch at the lower left, edges are intact with minor chipping typical of high series O-Pee-Chee cutting, and the surface is free of creases, wrinkles, or indentations with solid gloss and no staining or print defects visible through the sleeve. The back shows uniform light tan toning with bold orange ink, the statistical box is crisp and fully legible with no ink smearing, and there is only light edge wear without wax residue or writing, though the cardboard is a shade darker than low numbers which is common for high series stock. No hidden bends are observed. The centering and corner softness are the primary grade limiters while the clean surface and absence of creases support collector appeal. A conservative raw grade of VG-EX 4 is appropriate and fairly reflects the honest high number condition while still offering strong display value, making this 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Lou Angotti #243 Chicago Black Hawks a rewarding high number for Chicago team collectors and 1972-73 set finishers. Grade Estimate: VG-EX 4