Now for something a little on the lighter side. We’ve put together some alternate looks at a few vintage hockey cards. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy. If you do, please share.
Wayne Gretzky’s 1982-83 O-Pee-Chee card. Gretz, of course, played in 1,487 NHL regular season games between 1979-80 and 1998-99 with the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers. Over that time, he scored 894 goals and assisted on 1,963 for 2,857 points. Accolades abound for Gretzky will several each of the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Trophy and Lady Byng Trophy, among others.
The Wayne Gretzky rookie card appeared a few years earlier as number 18 in the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee set and is one of the most coveted of all pieces of hockey cardboard. The Great One was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999. Although he will probably own the better part of the NHL record book for the rest of his life and ours, his coaching career in the NHL was less than stellar. In four years as head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, Wayne was never able to take the team to the post season.
Alain Caron is shown on his only major hockey card, part of the WHA series of the 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee set. Caron played 60 games in the NHL in 1967-68 and 1968-69 with the Oakland Seals and Montreal Canadiens. His WHA career consisted of 195 games between 1972-73 and 1974-75, mostly with the Quebec Nordiques.
Boom Boom Caron scored 77 goals with the St. Louis Braves of the CPHL in 1963-64. In 1975-76, he topped that with 78 goals in the NAHL as a member of the Beauce Jaros.
Gerry Cheevers started his career in earnest with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1961-62. His rookie card appeared as number 31 in the 1965-66 Topps set as a member of the Boston Bruins. Most of his National Hockey League career was spent with the Bruins, although he had a four year stint in the WHA with the Cleveland Crusaders from 1972-73 to 1975-76.
Cheevers is depicted here in his 1976-77 O-Pee-Chee card. Gerry was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.
Carl Brewer played in the NHL from 1957-58 to 1971-72 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues. He made a 20 game comeback with the Maple Leafs in 1979-80. Carl also spent a full season in the World Hockey Association with the Toronto Toros in 1973-74.
Above, Brewer is shown as a member of the Blues in the 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee set. His rookie card was number 3 in the 1959-60 Parkhurst collection.
Right smack dab in the middle of his career, Gump Worsley appeared on this 1962-63 Topps hockey card. Worsley played in the NHL from 1952-53 to 1973-74 with the Rangers, Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota North Stars. His rookie card was number 53 in the 1953-54 Parkhurst set and Lorne ‘Gump’ Worsley entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1980.
Also pretty much in the middle of his career, Bill Gadsby appeared on this 1957-58 Topps hockey card as a member of the New York Rangers. Gadsby played in the National Hockey League from 1946-47 to 1965-66 with the Chicago Blackhawks, New York and the Detroit Red Wings. His rookie card was number 37 in the 1951-52 Parkhurst set and Bill was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1970.