Dit Clapper: An Early Boston Bruins Great

Like many in 1933-34, Dit Clapper had already been in the NHL for several years but was put on cardboard for the first time. Like many, three different manufacturers put out hockey cards of Clapper in 1933-34. Also, like many, because this sudden interest in hockey cards seemingly came out of nowhere that year, all three cards were considered to be the Dit Clapper rookie card, despite him being in seventh year in the National Hockey League.

All 3 rookie cards of Dit (Aubrey) Clapper have a book value of $600 each.

• V129 #36
• Ice Kings V357 #1
• O-Pee-Chee V304A #8

Clapper played 20 years in the NHL from 1927-28 to 1946-47, all with the Boston Bruins. He was the first player to play 20 years in the league and, to this day, one of only seven to accomplish the feat while playing for the same franchise. A bit of a scoring threat in the first half of his career, Dit was moved to the point in his later years.

In 1929-30, his third year with Boston, Clapper finished second in the league with 41 goals in 44 games, equal to a 76 goal performance today. His point total of 61 was good for third. Linemate Cooney Weiland finished first that year with 43 goals and 73 points. His numbers dropped to 22 goals and 30 points the following season. However, the game was changing and the goal total still placed him in the NHL’s top ten.

Dit got his name inscribed on the Stanley Cup three times during his playing career. In 1928-29, the Bruins ousted the New York Rangers 2-0 to take the prize. In 1938-39, Boston beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 and two years later in 1942-43, they swept the Detroit Red Wings 4-0 in the finals. No other player has won three Stanley Cups as a member of the Boston Bruins.

The Bruins were also unsuccessful in the Stanley Cup finals three times with Clapper in the lineup. They were swept by the Montreal Canadiens in 1929-30, swept again by the Detroit Red Wings in 1942-43 and fell to Montreal in five games in 1945-46. The interesting point about that last Stanley Cup final appearance was that Clapper was not only a player, he was also the team’s head coach. He coached the team over his final two years as a player and for two more years after that.

Clapper finished his NHL career with 474 points in 824 regular season games. He played in 82 playoff games, missing the post season five times. Dit had his number 5 retired by the Bruins in 1947, his was the third of the current ten jersey numbers retired by the team. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame the same year. it was just the second round of inductions in the newly formed shrine.

Dit’s grandson and great grandson had some success in the game. Grandson Greg Theberge played junior hockey with the Peterborough Petes in the late 1970’s. He was a draft pick of the Washington Capitals and played 153 games in the NHL between 1980-81 and 1983-84, all with Washington. Great grandson Brett Theberge played for Peterborough for four years from 2006-07 to 2009-10 and is currently playing for Dalhousie University.