1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Pete Stemkowski #78 New York Rangers EX 5

Description

1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Pete Stemkowski #78 New York Rangers EX 5 Bring home a sharp action-pose classic with this 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Pete Stemkowski #78, a strong-looking vintage single that captures the rugged Rangers pivot in his road white sweater against the set's signature orange field. Stemkowski is shown crouched with stick in hand, jersey number 21 visible, in the kind of authentic period photography that gives this OPC issue its timeless charm and instant shelf appeal. Pete Stemkowski earned lasting hockey folklore during his Rangers years, most famously for scoring a triple-overtime winner in the 1971 Stanley Cup semifinals against Chicago, a marathon goal that still lives in Madison Square Garden lore. A durable Winnipeg-born center who also won a Stanley Cup earlier in his career, Stemkowski was exactly the kind of dependable, physical veteran that made the early-seventies Rangers such a dangerous club, and his cards are perennial favorites for team collectors and set builders alike. This card is a true Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back, presenting the biography and NHL career statistics in both English and French alongside the beloved OPC cartoon, the defining feature that sets the scarcer O-Pee-Chee printing apart from the Topps release and makes it a must-have for Canadian collectors. this copy presents noticeably cleaner than many of its set-mates, with only light corner touch showing minimal rounding, sharp-looking edges that display just faint chipping under close inspection, and pleasing front centering that keeps Stemkowski well framed within the tan border. The surface is glossy and bright with no visible creases or wrinkles breaking through the photo, and the bilingual reverse shows only modest age toning while remaining crisp and fully legible. The overall presentation is above average for the issue and genuinely eye-catching. Because the corners still show slight softness and the edges reveal minor factory and handling wear, a conservative raw grade estimate places this attractive single at the Excellent level, an honest assessment that gives a buyer room to be pleasantly surprised in hand rather than disappointed. For anyone assembling the 1972-73 OPC set, chasing Rangers greats, or seeking a memorable-name vintage card with real story behind it, this Stemkowski is a rewarding pickup at a fair price. It ships protected in a penny sleeve and top loader, ready to display, collect, or submit for professional grading down the road. Grade Estimate: EX 5