1972 O-Pee-Chee CFL Wayne Harris #53 Hall of Fame Calgary Stampeders

Description

1972 O-Pee-Chee CFL Wayne Harris #53 Hall of Fame Calgary Stampeders The 1972 O-Pee-Chee CFL Wayne Harris #53 Hall of Fame Calgary Stampeders card captures one of Canadian football's greatest linebackers at the summit of an extraordinary career. With its bold green team panel, bright yellow lettering, classic red Calgary uniform and tightly framed portrait, this vintage issue has immediate display appeal. It belongs to O-Pee-Chee's 132-card 1972 CFL set, a distinctly Canadian release that remains popular with team collectors, set builders and fans of the league's golden era. Harris, famously nicknamed The Thumper, played his entire professional career with Calgary from 1961 through 1972. Although relatively compact for a middle linebacker, the Arkansas star became feared for his balance, anticipation and forceful tackling. He was selected to the Western all-star team in 11 consecutive seasons and earned eight CFL All-Star selections. Harris won the Schenley Most Outstanding Lineman Award four times, in 1965, 1966, 1970 and 1971, a remarkable record reflected by the card's cartoon and biographical copy. His signature achievement came in the 1971 Grey Cup, where Calgary defeated the Toronto Argonauts 14 to 11 on a wet field in Vancouver. Harris made five tackles, assisted on three more, recovered a fumble and was named the game's Most Valuable Player as the Stampeders ended a 23-year championship drought. His number 55 was later retired by Calgary, he entered the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1976 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004, and his image appeared on a Canada Post stamp celebrating the 100th Grey Cup. The reverse is a Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual text back with separate English and French biography sections, not a puzzle back. It also includes the card number, physical details, college identification and an illustrated award caption that adds period character. The photographed card shows lightly softened corners, most noticeably at the upper left and lower left, mild roughness and small flecks of chipping along the white perimeter, and a generally clean front with no obvious crease, wrinkle, writing or major stain visible through the sleeve. The image and green frame are reasonably well centered, with a modest right-side border imbalance, while the back shows natural age toning, light edge wear and small corner touches without a visible paper tear. Sleeve reflections and scan lighting may conceal very fine surface flaws, so the assessment remains deliberately cautious. The combination of presentable colour, intact surfaces and moderate vintage wear supports a conservative EX 5 estimate rather than a higher grade. This is an attractive, affordable card of a Hall of Fame defender and Grey Cup MVP, ideal for a Calgary collection, a Canadian football display or progress toward a complete 1972 O-Pee-Chee CFL set. Grade Estimate: EX 5