Sorry O-Pee-Chee – Bobby Clarke Never Won the Art Ross Trophy

In 1974-75, O-Pee-Chee told the hockey card collecting world that it had been two years since Bobby Clarke had won the Art Ross Trophy. Unfortunately, Clarke never won the Art Ross Trophy in his entire National Hockey League career. What he did win in 1972-73 was the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player, the first of three during his career.

Just the facts:

• 1974-75 O-Pee-Chee #260 Bobby Clarke hockey card is considered an uncorrected error.
• Bobby Clarke never won the Art Ross Trophy but did win the Hart Trophy three times.
• Clarke’s rookie card appeared in the 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee set.
• Bobby was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987 and his number 16 was retired by the Flyers in 1987.
• Two hockey trophies are now named after Bobby Clarke.

The line on the back of the 1974-75 O-Pee-Chee #260 Bobby Clarke hockey card reads “Bobby was voted the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s most valuable player two seasons ago”. Not only is the trophy name wrong but O-Pee-Chee deserves failing marks for grammar. They, of course, were referring to the Hart Memorial Trophy for MVP that Clarke did win two years before. Beckett Hockey Monthly values the hockey card at $12.

Bobby Clarke was a second round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers at the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft, 17th overall. He played his junior hockey with the Flin Flon Bombers of the WHL. Today, the player with the most points during the WHL regular season is awarded the Bob Clarke Trophy. The Flyers team MVP award is dubbed the Bobby Clarke Trophy.

Clarke played his entire National Hockey League career with the Flyers, from 1969-70 to 1983-84. He appeared in 1,144 regular season games and contributed 1,210 points. He won the Hart Trophy in 1972-73, 1974-75 and 1975-76. He played for Team Canada at the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union. Bobby played in all eight games and totaled six points for Canada. He captained the Flyers to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1973-74 and 1974-75.

Although Clarke was denied the Art Ross Trophy, he came close on three occasions. In his three seasons where he totaled 100 or more points, Bobby finished in the top 10 in the NHL. In 1972-73 with 104 points, Clarke finished second to Phil Esposito of the 1972 Boston Bruins. In 1974-75, his 116 points placed him sixth as Bobby Orr of the Bruins captured the Art Ross. The following season, his 119 points placed him second behind Guy Lafleur of the Montreal Canadiens.

In 1984, the Philadelphia Flyers retired Bobby Clarke’s number 16. In 1987, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He spent several years in the front office of the club after hanging up the blades.

Download our hockey card UER guide for free!

[subscribe2]