1972 O-Pee-Chee CFL Jim Furlong #62 Grey Cup Champion Calgary Stampeders

Description

1972 O-Pee-Chee CFL Jim Furlong #62 Grey Cup Champion Calgary Stampeders The 1972 O-Pee-Chee CFL Jim Furlong #62 Grey Cup Champion Calgary Stampeders card offers a full-length view of one of the franchise's most versatile and durable players. Furlong stands in Calgary's red number 70 jersey and white pants on an outdoor field, framed by the bold green border and yellow team lettering that define O-Pee-Chee's distinctive 1972 design. As part of the company's 132-card CFL set, this single carries the appeal of a truly Canadian vintage issue and represents the defending Grey Cup champions immediately after their memorable 1971 victory. Born in Winnipeg and raised in Lethbridge, Furlong joined the Stampeders in 1962 after playing at the University of Tulsa. Over his long Calgary career he contributed at linebacker, punter, defensive line and receiver, a combination that speaks to the flexible roster roles demanded by Canadian football in the 1960s and 1970s. He appeared in 174 regular-season games from 1962 through 1974, placing him among the franchise leaders for seasons of service. Furlong was selected as a Western Division all-star linebacker in 1965, recorded 15 career interceptions and became one of Calgary's all-time punting leaders with 707 punts for 28,898 yards. He played in three Grey Cup games with the Stampeders, experiencing losses in 1968 and 1970 before helping Calgary defeat Toronto 14 to 11 in the rain in 1971. That championship ended a 23-year drought and remains one of the defining moments in club history. After football, Furlong became a teacher and remained involved with the sport through minor coaching, adding a strong community dimension to his legacy. The reverse is a Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual text back with English and French biography panels, not a puzzle back. It identifies card number 62, his Tulsa background and his steady performance since joining Calgary, plus a period cartoon noting a decade of seasons. The photographed card retains strong colour and a clear full-body image, with lightly softened corners, slight roughness at the upper and right edges, and a few tiny white border flecks. The lower left tip shows mild wear, but there is no obvious crease, major wrinkle, writing, pinhole, paper loss or dark stain visible through the sleeve. Centering is attractive for the issue, although the front frame sits marginally closer to one side and low. The back has natural tan age toning, small corner touches and minor edge rub while the dark blue border and green panel remain well defined. Since the card is inside a sleeve, minute surface scratches or pressure impressions cannot be excluded. A cautious EX-MT 6 estimate reflects a well-presented, apparently crease-free example while allowing for the corner, edge and centering imperfections. This card is a strong choice for Stampeders collectors, fans of Canadian-born CFL veterans and set builders seeking an appealing championship-era O-Pee-Chee single. Grade Estimate: EX-MT 6