Description
1970-71 O-Pee-Chee
Val Fonteyne #208 Pittsburgh Penguins (EX 5)
The "Gentleman" of the Ice
Own a piece of NHL history with this 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee Val Fonteyne #208 hockey card. Known as one of the most gentlemanly players to ever lace up skates, Val Fonteyne was a defensive specialist who mastered the art of the puck-check without the penalty box. This card captures "The Saint" during his tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins, featuring the iconic 1970s design that collectors cherish for its clean aesthetic and bold team typography.
Own a piece of NHL history with this 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee Val Fonteyne #208 hockey card. Known as one of the most gentlemanly players to ever lace up skates, Val Fonteyne was a defensive specialist who mastered the art of the puck-check without the penalty box. This card captures "The Saint" during his tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins, featuring the iconic 1970s design that collectors cherish for its clean aesthetic and bold team typography.
Player Profile and Achievements
Val Fonteyne’s career is a testament to discipline and skill. Over 820 regular-season NHL games, he recorded a staggering total of only 28 penalty minutes—an average of just one minor penalty every 29 games! This 1970-71 season saw him as a key veteran for a growing Penguins squad, where his veteran leadership and penalty-killing prowess were invaluable. He finished his professional career with 229 NHL points and later became an inaugural member of the WHA's Alberta Oilers.
Val Fonteyne’s career is a testament to discipline and skill. Over 820 regular-season NHL games, he recorded a staggering total of only 28 penalty minutes—an average of just one minor penalty every 29 games! This 1970-71 season saw him as a key veteran for a growing Penguins squad, where his veteran leadership and penalty-killing prowess were invaluable. He finished his professional career with 229 NHL points and later became an inaugural member of the WHA's Alberta Oilers.
The 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee Legacy
This set is legendary among hockey enthusiasts for its "Expansion Era" charm. It marks the first time the O-Pee-Chee logo appeared on the card backs rather than Topps, and it includes the bilingual French and English text that has become a staple of Canadian vintage cardboard. The green-backed #208 Fonteyne is a "Series 2" card, which traditionally sees lower print runs than the first series, making high-quality examples increasingly difficult to find.
This set is legendary among hockey enthusiasts for its "Expansion Era" charm. It marks the first time the O-Pee-Chee logo appeared on the card backs rather than Topps, and it includes the bilingual French and English text that has become a staple of Canadian vintage cardboard. The green-backed #208 Fonteyne is a "Series 2" card, which traditionally sees lower print runs than the first series, making high-quality examples increasingly difficult to find.
Condition Report
This specific example presents as a very attractive mid-grade vintage card:
This specific example presents as a very attractive mid-grade vintage card:
- Corners: Shows moderate softening on all four corners consistent with an EX grade. The bottom-left corner has slightly more noticeable wear than the others.
- Edges: Features the classic O-Pee-Chee "rough cut" on the right vertical edge. There is light chipping along the top and bottom borders, but no major indentations.
- Centering: The front centering is approximately 65/35 top-to-bottom and 60/40 left-to-right.
- Surface & Back: The front surface retains good gloss with no major creases. The O-Pee-Chee bilingual back is clean with no ink marks, though it shows some typical age-related toning.
Grade Estimate: EX 5 (Excellent)
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