Description
1970-71 O-Pee-Chee
Floyd Smith #140 First Sabres Captain Buffalo Sabres EX-MT 6
Own a piece of Buffalo hockey history with the first-ever Captain of the Sabres!
This 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee Floyd Smith #140 is a must-have for any Sabres completionist or vintage hockey enthusiast. Selected from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft, Floyd Smith was immediately named the first captain in Buffalo Sabres franchise history. This card captures him during that historic inaugural season, immortalizing his transition from a reliable veteran to a foundational leader in the Queen City.
Player Achievements & Card History
Floyd Smith’s career spanned over 600 NHL games, including productive stints with the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. Known for his intelligence on the ice, he recorded a career-high 49 points in 1965-66. Beyond his playing days, Smith’s impact on the Sabres was profound; he later served as the team's head coach, famously leading the "French Connection" era Sabres to the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals. This 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee card is a prime example of the iconic "Green Border" set, beloved by collectors for its vibrant design and the unique bilingual (English/French) O-Pee-Chee back, which distinguishes it from its Topps counterpart.
Floyd Smith’s career spanned over 600 NHL games, including productive stints with the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. Known for his intelligence on the ice, he recorded a career-high 49 points in 1965-66. Beyond his playing days, Smith’s impact on the Sabres was profound; he later served as the team's head coach, famously leading the "French Connection" era Sabres to the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals. This 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee card is a prime example of the iconic "Green Border" set, beloved by collectors for its vibrant design and the unique bilingual (English/French) O-Pee-Chee back, which distinguishes it from its Topps counterpart.
Condition Report
This card remains in impressive vintage condition, presenting with a strong eye appeal:
This card remains in impressive vintage condition, presenting with a strong eye appeal:
- Corners: Noticeable but light touches on all four corners, with the bottom left showing the most softening. They remain relatively square for a 50+ year old card.
- Edges: Remarkable smoothness along the top and side edges. There is very minor chipping/roughness on the bottom edge, consistent with the O-Pee-Chee factory wire-cut of the era.
- Centering: Slightly shifted toward the bottom and left (approx. 65/35), but well within the acceptable range for an Excellent-Mint grade.
- Surface & Back: The front gloss is well-preserved with no major creases or scratches. The O-Pee-Chee bilingual back is clean, bright, and free of any wax staining or markings.
Grade Estimate
EX-MT 6 (Excellent-Mint)
A very sharp copy that just misses the "Near Mint" tier due to the corner touches and typical OPC edge-roughness.
A very sharp copy that just misses the "Near Mint" tier due to the corner touches and typical OPC edge-roughness.
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