1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Don Saleski #213 Rookie Card Philadelphia Flyers

Description

1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Don Saleski #213 Rookie Card Philadelphia Flyers Broad Street Bullies alert — this 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Don Saleski #213 Rookie Card Philadelphia Flyers is the true rookie of "Big Bird" himself, one of the most recognizable enforcer-wingers from hockey's most infamous dynasty, presented by Alex Collect. Issued the very season the Fred Shero-era Flyers began their transformation into back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, this card captures a fresh-faced Saleski in the burnt-orange sweater against a sky-blue background, before the curly hair and glare made him a Spectrum folk hero. The 6-foot-2 Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan native — nicknamed Big Bird by teammates — became a core Bully, hoisting the Cup in both 1974 and 1975, chipping in a career-best 27 goals in 1975-76, and battling in some of the decade's most notorious brawls, including the legendary 1976 series against the Soviet Red Army. Rookie cards from the Bullies era carry enduring demand from Flyers faithful, and this is Saleski's only recognized rookie issue. The back is the genuine Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back, printed in Canada, with English and French biography declaring "Don is a good defensive forward," a cartoon, and his one-game 1971-72 NHL record — a bilingual bio back, not a puzzle back. centering is shifted toward the left with the right tan border noticeably wider, and the right edge shows a heavy rough factory cut with fibrous texture and a band of natural toning along that border. Corners exhibit light wear overall, with the top-left and bottom-left tips showing minor softening; no corner is heavily rounded. The surface is clean and vibrant with no creases, wrinkles, stains or marks detected on either side, and the bilingual back is unmarked with even age toning. Balancing the strong surfaces against the off-centering and edge toning, our conservative raw estimate is EX 5 — priced honestly for the grade rather than the nickname. For Flyers collectors, Broad Street Bullies completists, and anyone chasing the rookies of both Cup rosters, this card is a must. Big Bird rookies never linger long, so lock this one in your lineup now. Grade Estimate: EX 5