1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Gary Doak #73 Detroit Red Wings EX-MT 6

Description

1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Gary Doak #73 Detroit Red Wings EX-MT 6 Gary Doak's 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee card is one of the more striking portraits in the entire Detroit Red Wings portion of the set, swapping the full body skating pose for a close crop head shot that shows the rugged defenseman staring straight into the camera against the signature green backdrop. The tight framing gives the card a modern, almost yearbook like intimacy, and the maroon practice jersey with its teal collar adds an unusual splash of color that collectors always notice when the page turns. As a Canadian O-Pee-Chee printing, the card carries the smaller production run and the bilingual reverse that make the OPC version of this era so collectible north of the border and increasingly sought after everywhere else. The back tells the story of a classic hockey lifer. Born in Goderich, Ontario, on February 25, 1946, Doak is described as a real team player who always gives his best, and the bilingual text notes his movement around the league, including a season away from the NHL around 1969-70 before he re-established himself with Detroit. At six feet and 180 pounds with a right handed shot, he was the kind of steady, stay at home defenseman coaches trusted against top lines, and he would remain a fixture on NHL blue lines well into the late 1970s. His printed career totals and the charming cartoon panel on the reverse round out a card that feels like a tiny museum exhibit of the era. this example is one of the cleaner copies in the sheet, with corners that remain sharp to the eye, only the faintest softness at the lower left tip, edges free of meaningful chipping, a glossy surface with no creases or wrinkles, and centering that leans slightly high yet stays well inside excellent to mint tolerance. The reverse confirms the Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back rather than a puzzle back, showing crisp two language text, even cream toning, and only trivial perimeter handling. Because I grade conservatively and because OPC cards of this vintage rarely survive without some edge texture, the honest call is EX-MT 6, a grade that reflects a card you can slab later or slide into a team set with pride. Defenseman collectors and Red Wings builders alike will find this 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Gary Doak #73 a crisp and appealing buy. Grade Estimate: EX-MT 6