1971 O-Pee-Chee CFL Jim Heighton #27 Vintage Base Card Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Description

1971 O-Pee-Chee CFL Jim Heighton #27 Vintage Base Card Winnipeg Blue Bombers For fans of durable defensive linemen, the 1971 O-Pee-Chee CFL Jim Heighton #27 Vintage Base Card Winnipeg Blue Bombers is a compelling piece of classic Canadian football history. The front features Heighton in the blue and gold Winnipeg uniform, surrounded by the vivid red O-Pee-Chee design and identified as a defensive end. The strong portrait, bold team lettering, football emblem, and period color palette create an attractive display card for Blue Bombers collectors. Its simple, colorful composition reflects the visual style of early 1970s sports cards and makes the player name easy to read in a vintage team collection. Heighton’s career gives this issue considerable sporting interest. The reverse identifies him as a Canadian non-import, lists the Victoria Steelers, and records his size at approximately 6 feet 3 inches and 252 pounds. The card notes that he was in his second full season with the Bombers and had already become a regular on defense. Heighton joined the BC Lions in 1969 before moving to Winnipeg in 1970, where he became a mainstay for much of the decade. He was named a CFL West All-Star four times, including 1971, 1972, 1974, and 1976, and he received major recognition from the Blue Bombers for his defensive line play. He was inducted into the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. His athletic ability extended beyond football, as he also excelled in baseball, soccer, basketball, and track and field. This card therefore appeals to collectors interested in Winnipeg history, Canadian athletes, and long-serving CFL defensive stars. The bilingual reverse is one of the defining features of the Canadian release. This is a Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back, not a puzzle back. It includes English and French text, a cartoon football illustration, card number, player measurements, school information, position, career note, O-Pee-Chee branding, and Printed in Canada wording. No obvious crease, wrinkle, or major bend is visible in the photographs. The top corners show light softening with small areas of whitening, and the lower corners are intact but mildly rounded. The red front border has scattered tiny marks, fine surface lines, and modest chipping along portions of the bottom and side edges. The photograph and team identification remain clear and attractive. The reverse displays normal warm age toning, minor speckling, and light perimeter roughness without visible writing. Centering appears close to 53/47 left to right and approximately 50/50 top to bottom. A few linear marks may reflect the protective sleeve rather than confirmed card damage. The condition is best represented conservatively as Excellent. Grade Estimate: EX 5