1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Butch Goring #56 Rookie Card Los Angeles Kings

Description

1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Butch Goring #56 Rookie Card Los Angeles Kings The key card of this sheet: a genuine 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Butch Goring #56 Rookie Card of Los Angeles Kings vintage, the recognized OPC rookie of one of the most beloved champions in hockey history. Printed in Canada with the authentic bilingual English and French back, not a puzzle back, this card captures the young Goring in the gold and purple Kings colors against the classic green studio backdrop, stick tucked, crown crest shining, the image of a Prince Edward Island kid who was about to become a New York icon. The reverse biography notes his rapid rise and the cartoon winks that Butch is a recent bridegroom, charming period details sealed under the orange PRINTED IN CANADA imprint. Hockey fans know the legend: in March 1980 the Islanders acquired Goring from the Kings at the trade deadline, completing the final piece of the dynasty puzzle, and he proceeded to help New York win four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983 while capturing the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1981. That four Cup, one Conn Smythe resume makes his rookie card a permanent blue chip in the vintage market, and Canadian-printed O-Pee-Chee versions trade at a premium to the Topps counterpart. the card shows honest vintage wear with the top left corner slightly rounded and rough, light corner touches elsewhere, minor chipping along the bottom edge, small white print specks in the tan stock as made, bright unfaded color with strong gloss, vertical centering of approximately 48/52, and the standard slightly left-weighted horizontal borders of the 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee design, with no creases, wrinkles, or stains visible on the front or back under close inspection of the high resolution scan. The bilingual career record, the cartoon, and the print line are all crisp and legible. A conservative grade estimate of EX 5 reflects the top left corner and bottom edge wear, with clean surfaces and strong eye appeal suggesting the card could challenge the estimate at a third party service. For rookie card collectors, Islanders dynasty fans, and Kings historians, this is the single most important card of the group and a proven long term hold. Grade Estimate: EX 5