1970 O-Pee-Chee Ted Gerela #31 BC Lions EX 5

Description

1970 O-Pee-Chee Ted Gerela #31 BC Lions EX 5 Celebrate the history of Canadian special teams excellence with this original 1970 O-Pee-Chee Ted Gerela #31 BC Lions EX 5 vintage trading card, available now at Alex Collect. Printed in Canada by O-Pee-Chee in London, Ontario, the 1970 CFL set is renowned for preserving key moments in football history through vibrant photography and bilingual player biographies. Theodore Gerela holds a revolutionary place in Canadian football as one of the very first dedicated placekicking specialists in the league, transforming how teams approached scoring on special teams. A graduate of Washington State University, Gerela joined the BC Lions in 1967 and made an immediate splash, winning the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy as the Western Conference Rookie of the Year in 1967. He followed up in 1968 by capturing the Dave Dryburgh Memorial Trophy as the CFL's top scoring leader, dazzling fans with his booming leg that routinely converted field goals from beyond 50 yards. The Gerela family represents one of football's greatest kicking dynasties, with Ted blazing the trail in the CFL while his brother Roy Gerela won three Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers' famed 'Steel Curtain' teams. Though primarily a kicker, Ted's versatile athleticism also saw him line up at running back, return kicks, and even intercept passes on defense during his seven memorable seasons with the Lions. His ability to swing the momentum of a game with clutch fourth-quarter kicks made him a beloved figure across Western Canada and a trailblazer for future generations of Canadian specialists. His cultural and sporting impact on the development of specialized kicking in professional football makes his vintage cards enduring fan favorites and key pieces of CFL heritage. This card features an authentic Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back printed in Canada with English and French biographical text and cartoons, rather than a puzzle back. The card exhibits balanced centering measuring roughly 50/50 left-to-right and 50/50 top-to-bottom, capturing Gerela in mid-kick with the ball positioned on the tee. The corners show moderate vintage softening and slight rounding at the tips, particularly on the left corners, consistent with careful preservation over five decades of collector care. The perimeter edges are intact with classic O-Pee-Chee fibrous qualities and minor vintage paper wear. The surface is glossy and bright, showcasing strong contrast between Gerela's white jersey and the green stadium turf with no heavy creases, scratches, or surface paper loss. The reverse side is remarkably well-preserved, featuring clear green typography detailing his 1967 Rookie of the Year award, a lively cartoon illustration, and clean unwritten cardstock that will please any vintage collector. Grade Estimate: EX 5