1971 O-Pee-Chee Jim Thomas #49 Edmonton Eskimos

Description

1971 O-Pee-Chee Jim Thomas #49 Edmonton Eskimos Celebrate one of the most beloved Eskimos of all time with this 1971 O-Pee-Chee Jim Thomas #49 Edmonton Eskimos card, featuring Long Gone, the explosive runner who defined Edmonton football for nearly a decade. The 1971 O-Pee-Chee CFL set remains a cornerstone of Canadian vintage collecting, known for its bold red borders, authentic stadium backgrounds, and bilingual backs printed by O-Pee-Chee in London, Ontario. This was the last era before the Eskimos became a five time Grey Cup dynasty, and players like Jim Thomas were the reason fans packed Clarke Stadium. Thomas was an eight year veteran of the Eskies at the time this card was printed, listed as a 6 foot 2, 195 pound import from Mississippi Industrial University, and his cartoon trivia notes that Long Gone spent half of 1970 in the NFL, showing the constant tug between the two leagues for talent. Known for his explosive running ability, Thomas was repeatedly selected as an All-Canadian, a rare honor for an American running back in a league that prided itself on Canadian toughness. His nickname Long Gone came from his breakaway speed, and in 1970 he remained one of the most dangerous open field runners in the West. For collectors who love nicknames, history, and long tenured franchise stars, this card is essential. The portrait shows Thomas in close up, intense and focused, wearing the classic green helmetless look with gold numbers that makes seventies Eskimos cards so visually striking. This is a Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back with the Long Gone cartoon and English and French text, with O-Pee-Chee and Printed in Canada at the base. The front centering is approximately 60/40 top to bottom, slightly high, and 55/45 left to right, with excellent color and no surface wear. Corners are sharp to the eye with only the slightest touch at the bottom left, and the red border retains its brightness with minimal chipping. The back is clean with light even age toning, no creases, no wrinkles, and no marks, and the text is fully legible. We conservatively grade this as EX-MT 6 due to its strong corners and clean surface, making it one of the nicer cards from this sheet. The 1971 O-Pee-Chee Jim Thomas #49 Edmonton Eskimos is a must have for any Eskimos all time team collection and displays beautifully. Grade Estimate: EX-MT 6