1971-72 O-Pee-Chee Ed Westfall #169 Boston Bruins (EX-MT 6)

Description

1971-72 O-Pee-Chee Ed Westfall #169 Boston Bruins (EX-MT 6) Secure a classic piece of Big Bad Bruins history with this original 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee Ed Westfall #169 hockey card. For collectors aiming to complete their 1971-72 vintage sets, finding original, mid-to-high grade representations of the era's defensive stalwarts is an essential pursuit. Ed Westfall was a key component of the legendary Boston Bruins teams of the late 1960s and early 1970s, serving as an elite defensive forward and penalty killer who could shut down the league's top superstars. This particular card showcases the unmistakable vintage 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee design, complete with the arched "BRUINS" team name across the top and a vibrant color portrait insert style that looks outstanding in a display case or binder sleeve. Ed Westfall enjoyed a stellar NHL career highlighted by two Stanley Cup championships with Boston in 1970 and 1972. Renowned for his exceptional hockey IQ, versatility, and leadership, he later became the first captain of the expansion New York Islanders, cementing his legacy as a franchise-building veteran. The reverse side of this card features the iconic O-Pee-Chee bilingual back, which delivers player statistics and biographical trivia in both English and French—a distinctive trait that differentiates Canadian O-Pee-Chee releases from their American Topps counterparts. This bilingual feature makes it a highly sought-after variant for historical hockey enthusiasts globally. A careful visual analysis of this raw 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee Ed Westfall #169 card shows excellent overall structural preservation. The corners remain relatively sharp, exhibiting only minor touch wear typical for a card that has been carefully stored in a collection for over five decades. The edges are clean with minimal chipping along the borders. Centering is quite strong for this notoriously difficult-to-center issue, showing slight favoring to the top-right but maintaining great overall visual symmetry. The surfaces are bright, displaying excellent original gloss with no visible creasing, wrinkles, surface indents, or ink marks on either the front portrait or the green statistical backing. It stands as a premium example for a raw collection grade. Grade Estimate: EX-MT 6