1972 O-Pee-Chee Joe Critchlow #116 Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Description

1972 O-Pee-Chee Joe Critchlow #116 Winnipeg Blue Bombers Interior linemen rarely headline highlight reels, yet their cards often prove the scarcest to locate when a team block nears completion, and collectors seeking a 1972 O-Pee-Chee Joe Critchlow #116 Winnipeg Blue Bombers card are targeting exactly that kind of finish-the-set single. The 1972 O-Pee-Chee CFL set, issued by O-Pee-Chee of London, Ontario as a 132-card survey of the league, frames its Winnipeg players beneath the bright yellow team banner, and Critchlow's portrait shows him in the royal blue jersey with the white numeral 53 and gold trim, posed against the sunlit outdoor backdrop shared by the Bombers photos in this release. The horizontal reverse, bordered in deep blue with a green stats sidebar and cartoon vignette, delivers the parallel English and French narrative panels of the authentic Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back. The back text rates Critchlow as exceptionally fast and aggressive, notes that he has been rated one of the CFL's best defensive tackles, and records his All-Star selection in his senior year at Southeast Missouri State plus All-Conference honors in his three years with the Indians, a collegiate resume that translated into respected professional play in Winnipeg. His card closes out the defensive line run of the Blue Bombers team block, and because tackle cards from this era were frequently handled and swapped by young collectors, honest raw examples with clean corners and legible bilingual backs have become quietly difficult to source. For set builders working through the 1972 O-Pee-Chee CFL checklist team by team, Critchlow's single represents the satisfying final piece of the Winnipeg defensive front, and group purchases from a single original sheet like this one offer consistent condition across the block. corners show slight wear at the bottom left with faint whitening against the yellow border, edges exhibit minor chipping along the right side, and centering measures approximately 55/45 left to right and 55/45 top to bottom, a pleasingly balanced placement for the issue. The reverse shows light even toning on the tan stock without stains, creases, wrinkles, or print marks, and the front gloss remains bright with no scratches visible in the photos. The card is a Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back, not a puzzle back, with both language panels crisp and complete. Considering the light corner touch against the strong centering and clean surfaces, a conservative raw grade of EX 5 is the honest and marketable assessment for this example. Grade Estimate: EX 5