1969-70 O-Pee-Chee Charlie Burns #129 Minnesota North Stars GOOD 2

Description

1969-70 O-Pee-Chee Charlie Burns #129 Minnesota North Stars GOOD 2 The 1969-70 O-Pee-Chee Charlie Burns #129 Minnesota North Stars GOOD 2 delivers unmistakable vintage hockey atmosphere and a memorable portrait of one of the era’s most resilient two-way forwards. Burns appears in a simple green North Stars sweater with the traditional lace-up collar, set against a pale studio background and surrounded by the bold stick-shaped design used throughout this landmark O-Pee-Chee release. The result is a card that feels closely connected to late 1960s NHL expansion, when new franchises and veteran professionals were reshaping the league’s geography and identity. Nicknamed Charlie Hustle, Burns built a long professional career on intelligent checking, playmaking, penalty killing, and effort. Born in Detroit and raised in Toronto, he was notably the only American-born player active in the NHL in 1959, although he chose Canadian citizenship and represented Canada with the 1958 world champion Whitby Dunlops. Burns played 749 NHL games across time with the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Oakland Seals, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota North Stars. His story also included player-coach assignments, and he later served as head coach of the North Stars. Those unusual intersections of American birth, Canadian international hockey, Original Six competition, expansion-era movement, and coaching responsibility give this affordable card excellent historical depth. The reverse reinforces that story with card number 129, the Charlie Hustle nickname, career statistics through 1968-69, and a cartoon referring to the serious head and back injuries he overcame. This is the Canadian O-Pee-Chee version with English and French bilingual text and a Printed in Canada notation. It is not a puzzle back. Collectors who appreciate narrative-rich vintage cards will enjoy how much period biography is packed into its turquoise and tan design. The card is close to centered from left to right, with only a modest visual shift, and its portrait remains strong despite substantial age-related wear. All four front corners are rounded and frayed. The lower-left corner has a pronounced diagonal crease, the upper-right area shows additional wrinkling, and fine crease lines are visible near other corners and border sections. Chipping and fibre exposure run along the perimeter, with heavier wear near the bottom and top edges. The front also shows scattered scratches, scuffs, and small marks. On the back, the upper edge and corners are heavily worn, with multiple visible wrinkles and crease lines at the top-right and lower areas, plus widespread surface abrasion and edge whitening. The sleeve can introduce glare or fine lines, but several structural creases appear to belong to the card itself. A conservative GOOD 2 estimate is appropriate because the card is complete, readable, and visually identifiable, yet its rounded corners, repeated creasing, and surface wear prevent a VG assessment. It remains an appealing low-cost type card for a North Stars page or a well-loved 1969-70 O-Pee-Chee set. Grade Estimate: GOOD 2