1970 O-Pee-Chee Ken Lehmann #44 Ottawa Rough Riders VG-EX 4

Description

1970 O-Pee-Chee Ken Lehmann #44 Ottawa Rough Riders VG-EX 4 Great players deserve more than one card in a collection, and this second 1970 O-Pee-Chee Ken Lehmann #44 example gives Ottawa Rough Riders set builders another chance at the linebacker who captured the Canadian football Most Outstanding Player award in 1968 from the defensive side of the ball. Lehmann was the kind of player coaches pointed to when teaching pursuit angles, a bone crushing and vicious tackler in the words of his own card back, and a man who collected every major lineman award in the CFL before retiring as a pillar of the Rough Riders dynasty that captured Grey Cups in 1968 and 1969. The 1970 O-Pee-Chee CFL issue remains a favourite of vintage collectors because it blends moody dark photography with the warm cream borders and bold red and black name plates that define early seventies Canadian cardboard, issued while Ottawa still basked in back to back Grey Cup glory. The charging Rough Rider logo tucked into the photo corner gives each Ottawa card instant team identity, while the reverse delivers the full Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back treatment, English and French text side by side with a hand drawn cartoon panel, and collectors should note this is the bilingual cartoon reverse and not a puzzle back variety. Lehmann's post football life in Ottawa radio is immortalized by the cartoon caption Ken works for a radio station, a pop culture touch that connects this card to the broadcast booths where a generation of fans heard his voice after his playing days ended. His Xavier University background and his role as the defensive signal caller add narrative weight to a card that plays as both sport artifact and local history document. For buyers searching the 1970 O-Pee-Chee Ken Lehmann #44 as a second example, a budget star card, or a raw grading candidate, this piece prices accordingly and presents honestly. the front retains pleasant gloss and colour with light corner softening and small white chipping touches along the bottom border, while centering runs slightly heavy to the left margin. The reverse tells the grading story more loudly, showing pronounced edge chipping along the left and bottom margins, a touched corner at the lower left, and scattered light scuffing through the black ink field, all photographed clearly so buyers know exactly what they are receiving. No creases, no wrinkles, and no writing appear on either side, and the cartoon panel remains crisp and fully legible. The conservative raw grade of VG-EX 4 reflects the heavier reverse edge wear while acknowledging that the front keeps solid eye appeal for a star card of this vintage. Priced below the sharper example in our store, it suits collection fillers and raw set builders who would rather spend on completion than on condition. Ships sleeved and toploaded with tracked delivery and friendly combined shipping. Grade Estimate: VG-EX 4