We’re always beating up on the 1968-69 O-Pee-Chee hockey card set. Why? Because it was disastrous. Heads cuts and pasted onto other player’s bodies. Horribly painted-on uniforms. The wrong brother pictured. Body parts missing. Yes, body parts missing. We look at some of these disasters here: 1968-69 O-Pee-Chee Odd and Unusual.
Another oddity of the 1968-69 O-Pee-Chee NHL set happens with three normally below the radar players. Ab McDonald, Bob Woytowich and Howie Young are each shown on two separate hockey cards. Not Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe or Jean Beliveau. Ab McDonald, Bob Woytowich and Howie Young.
Here’s a look at those six hockey cards (click on the images below for the larger versions)…
Ab McDonald
McDonald was traded to St. Louis fro the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 11, 1968 in exchange for Lou Angotti. It wasn’t a trade just prior to the start of the season. It was well known that Ab would be in the Blues lineup by the time any thought went into the 1968-69 NHL season.
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee 107
Yet, his hockey card #107 shows him with the Blues but with one of the worst bits of artwork ever produced on a hockey card. The Blues logo is a disaster. His gloves look like a cartoon artist must have drawn them.
On the back of the card it reads:
When Ab McDonald was dealt to the St. Louis Blues this season, it was his sixth NHL club in 11 years. The big left winger had high-scoring AHL years at Rochester and Pittsburgh. He scored 22 goals last season.
In the cartoon blurb:
Ab played on the famed “Scooter Line” while in Chicago.
By the way, the other five teams he had played for up to that point were the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and the Penguins. He would return to the Red Wings for 19 games in 1971-72 and played two years in the WHA with the Winnipeg Jets.
The Scooter Line started out as the trio of Stan Mikita, Ken Wharram and McDonald. Doug Mohns came along and replaced Ab later on.
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee 180
On hockey card number 180, he is shown in a proper Blues jersey, wearing number 25. In fact, McDonald wore number 20 with St. Louis in 1968-69 while no one wore 25.
On the back of the card it reads:
Ab was obtained from Pittsburgh this years and will add tremendous scoring punch to their line-up.
In the cartoon blurb:
Was top scorer for Pittsburgh last season.
The Blues welcomed McDonald for the 1968-69 season and he helped the team reach the Stanley Cup finals in 1968-69 and 1969-70.
Bob Woytowich
Bob Woytowich was traded from the Minnesota North Stars to the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 1, 1968. Therefore, it is quite justified that O-Pee-Chee printed the updated second card of Woytowich, showing him with his new club. By the way, he was traded for a first round draft pick at the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft. That pick turned out to be Dave Gardner, going eighth overall.
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee 49
On the front, Bob is shown still with the Minnesota North Stars. However, he is wearing number 3 with no ‘C’ on his jersey. In fact, he wore number 2 with the North Stars in 1967-68 and was the team’s captain.
On the back of the card it reads:
Although he captained the Minnesota North Stars into the playoffs during their initial season last year, hard-hitting Bob was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in October. He started in the New York chain, and also played three seasons with Boston.
In the cartoon blurb:
Bob is one of the few NHL defensemen to shoot from the righthand side.
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee 192
In this card, Woytowich is shown wearing a Penguins jersey with number 2 on the shoulder. He did wear 2 for the Penguins, rather number 20.
On the back of the card it reads:
Bob played last season with Minnesota North Stars – a good solid checking defenseman.
In the cartoon blurb:
Bob plays best when going is rough and tough.
Howie Young
Howie Young had to take a long journey to Chicago before the 1968-69 season started. On May 27, 1968, he was shipped from the Detroit Red Wings to the Oakland Seals with Gary Jarrett, Doug Roberts and Chris Worthy for Bob Baun and Ron Harris. However, just before the season started, he was claimed from the Seals by the Blackhawks.
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee 82
Howie is shown in a Blackhawks jersey wearing number 2. In card number 151, he is shown wearing number 16. He actually wore number 3 for Chicago in 1967-68.
On the back of the card it reads:
Few National Hockey League players have received as much coverage as Howie Young. He’s the league’s all-time “bad boy”, although he’s certainly reformed in recent years. Chicago reclaimed Howie from Oakland at the start of the current season.
In the cartoon blurb:
Howie once surprised a WHL crowd by wearing a ‘Beatle’ wig on the ice.
Where did the all-time bad-boy designation come from? He sat 851 penalty minutes over 336 career NHL games – a lot but not enough to make it a career leader. You have to look back at the 1962-63 season with the Red Wings. Howie sat a record 273 penalty minutes, 105 more than the second place player, Carl Brewer from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee 151
As mentioned, Howie Young is pictured with the Blackhawks and is wearing number 16 on the front of the hockey card.
On the back of the card it reads:
Howie was traded by Detroit this year when the Black Hawks tried to “beef-up” their defense. A rugged performer, Howie’s main fault is taking too many penalties.
In the cartoon blurb:
Howie has set records for most penalties in NHL, AHL and QHL.
We are take a closer look at Young’s career in another feature at Vintage Hockey Cards Report. That article can be found here: Howie Young.