Description
1971-72 O-Pee-Chee
Johnny Bucyk #255 1st All-Star Team Boston Bruins VG 3
The "Chief" of the Boston Garden takes center stage! This 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee #255 card celebrates a monumental milestone in the legendary career of Johnny Bucyk: his first selection to the NHL’s First All-Star Team. Known affectionately as "The Chief," Bucyk was the heart and soul of the Big Bad Bruins during their golden era, and this vintage piece captures the peak of his offensive powers.
Card & Player History
The 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee set is a cornerstone of vintage hockey collecting, distinguished from its Topps counterpart by its thinner card stock and the iconic O-Pee-Chee bilingual back (French and English), a must-have for Canadian collectors. Johnny Bucyk earned this First Team All-Star nod following a spectacular 1970-71 campaign where he became the fifth player in NHL history to reach the 50-goal plateau. At age 35, he was the oldest player at the time to achieve the feat, ultimately finishing with a career-high 116 points.
The 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee set is a cornerstone of vintage hockey collecting, distinguished from its Topps counterpart by its thinner card stock and the iconic O-Pee-Chee bilingual back (French and English), a must-have for Canadian collectors. Johnny Bucyk earned this First Team All-Star nod following a spectacular 1970-71 campaign where he became the fifth player in NHL history to reach the 50-goal plateau. At age 35, he was the oldest player at the time to achieve the feat, ultimately finishing with a career-high 116 points.
Bucyk’s legacy in Boston is unmatched. A two-time Stanley Cup champion (1970, 1972) and two-time Lady Byng winner, he retired as the Bruins' all-time leading goal scorer (545). This card, featuring the vibrant green and yellow All-Star design, is a fitting tribute to the Hall of Famer’s incredible 1971-72 season, during which he helped lead the Bruins to another Stanley Cup victory.
Condition Report
- Corners: All four corners show visible rounding and softening, consistent with a card that has been enjoyed and handled over the decades.
- Edges: The edges exhibit typical O-Pee-Chee rough-cut characteristics but remain relatively clean with light chipping along the top and bottom borders.
- Centering: This example boasts excellent centering, a rare find for this high-numbered All-Star subset, being nearly 50/50 left-to-right.
- Surface & Creasing: There is a small horizontal crease visible on the front of the card, extending from the right edge into the green background. The surface retains much of its original luster and color, with no major stains or wax marks.
- Back: The bilingual back is clean, with the green and black ink still sharp and the text fully legible.
Grade Estimate
VG 3 (Very Good)
While the centering is exceptional, the presence of the surface crease on the front and the significant corner wear limits the grade to the Very Good range.
While the centering is exceptional, the presence of the surface crease on the front and the significant corner wear limits the grade to the Very Good range.
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