1970 O-Pee-Chee Tommy Joe Coffey #13 Hamilton Tiger-Cats VG 3

Description

1970 O-Pee-Chee Tommy Joe Coffey #13 Hamilton Tiger-Cats VG 3 Serious Hamilton collectors know that few names carry more weight at Ivor Wynne Stadium than Tommy Joe Coffey, and this original 1970 O-Pee-Chee Tommy Joe Coffey #13 Hamilton Tiger-Cats VG 3 is a cornerstone piece for any vintage Canadian football collection offered by Alex Collect. The front features Coffey in his classic black and gold number 75 jersey, smiling confidently for the camera, with his name and Hamilton Tiger-Cats Offensive End designation below the sharp Tiger-Cats logo. It is the kind of warm late 1960s portrait that instantly transports longtime fans back to chilly autumn afternoons in Hamilton, when Coffey was both a sure handed receiver and a clutch field goal kicker. If you collect Hall of Fame talent, Grey Cup heroes, or complete 1970 O-Pee-Chee CFL sets, this is a must have card that displays beautifully despite honest vintage wear. The historical context behind this issue makes it even more appealing. The 1970 O-Pee-Chee CFL set is a beloved 115 card Canadian release that captured the league during one of its most colorful eras, printed in Canada exclusively for the Canadian market with distinctive black backs featuring bilingual English and French biographies and light green cartoon panels. This is a Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back with English and French text and a green cartoon panel, not a puzzle back, with PRINTED IN CANADA along the edge as collectors expect. The 1970 season saw the Tiger-Cats finish first in the Eastern Conference at 8 wins 5 losses and 1 tie under the bright lights of a talent laden roster, and cards like this preserve that specific moment before Hamilton would go on to win the memorable 1972 Grey Cup at home. O-Pee-Chee cards from this period were printed on thinner stock than American Topps issues and the dark backs chip very easily, which is why original high eye appeal examples remain in strong demand. Coffey himself is football royalty in Canada. A Texas native from West Texas State who starred over a 14 year CFL career with the Edmonton Eskimos from 1959 to 1960 and 1962 to 1966, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1967 to 1972, and the Toronto Argonauts in 1973, he was named a CFL All-Star seven times in 1962 and 1964 through 1968 and again in 1970, won the Dave Dryburgh Memorial Trophy as the leagues top scorer in 1962, and was runner up for the Most Outstanding Player Award three times in 1962, 1967 and 1970. He helped Hamilton win Grey Cups in 1967 and 1972, scoring 971 career points on 65 touchdowns, 204 converts, 108 field goals and 53 singles, and he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1977 with later honours on both the Edmonton Wall of Honour in 1988 and the Hamilton Wall of Honour in 1999. His dual threat value as an elite offensive end and a reliable clutch field goal kicker made him one of the most complete players of his generation. front centering is approximately 65/35 left to right with a slightly narrow left white border and full Tiger-Cats logo visible, colors remain bold with good gloss for the issue, corners show moderate rounding and light whitening especially at the top left and bottom right, edges show light toning and minor chipping along the left border consistent with sleeve storage, back is clean and fully legible with the number 13 roundel bright green but shows moderate edge chipping and white specks along the top and left black borders plus light corner touches, no creases, wrinkles, writing or tape marks were observed in the photos. The conservative grade estimate explanation reflects that edge chipping on the delicate black stock and corner softness prevent a higher grade even though eye appeal is strong for a low grade example, so VG 3 is fair and protects the buyer while leaving room for long term appreciation as Hall of Fame Tiger-Cats material continues to climb. Grade Estimate: VG 3