Bobby Orr 1966-67 Topps 35

It all began for Bobby Orr in the hockey card world with the 1966-67 Topps card number 35. Orr's rookie card has become one of the most coveted pieces of cardboard for any sports card collector. In anticipation of a long and prosperous career, the rookie card came out before Bobby had even played his first season in the National Hockey League.

Oshawa Generals - 1965-66

The stats section on the back of the card is blank because Orr played the 1965-66 season in the OHA Junior A (now the Ontario Hockey League) with the Oshawa Generals. It was his last of four years with the team and his most successful. Over his career with the Generals, Bobby scored 107 and assisted on 173 for 280 points over 193 regular season games – unheard of numbers for a defenseman at the time.

In his 1965-66 season, Bobby scored 38 and assisted on 56 for 94 points over just 47 games. At the time, each team in the nine team league played a 48 game regular season schedule. He was named a First Team All-Star defenseman but there were no other personal accolades. The Max Kaminsky Trophy for the league's top blue liner would not start to be awarded until 1969-70. The Red Tilson Trophy for most valuable player went to Andre Lacroix of the Peterborough Petes in 1965-66.

Oshawa had a modest regular season, placing fourth in the nine team league. In the playoffs, they knocked off the St. Catherines Blackhawks and Montreal Junior Canadiens to earn a meeting with the Kitchener Rangers in the finals. The Generals came out on top in five games for the championship. In the OHA playoffs, Orr had nine goals and 19 assists over 17 games.

The next stop was the Eastern Canada Memorial Cup playoffs. Oshawa beat the Shawinigan Falls Bruins in the finals three games to one to capture the George Richardson Trophy. In the Memorial Cup finals, the Generals met their match, losing to the Edmonton Oil Kings. Over the Memorial Cup playoffs, Bobby added another 12 goals and 24 assists over just 12 games.

Boston Bruins 1966-67

 

 

From the back of his 1966-67 Topps rookie card:

Bobby came to the Bruins direct from the Oshawa Generals Junior 'A' club. He is the most publicized junior in many years and certainly will become one of the future stars in the NHL. A rushing defenseman who can set up goals as well as score them.

With the Bruins in 1966-67, Orr scored 13 and assisted on 28 for 41 points while appearing in 61 of Boston's 70 regular season games. His point total was good for third on the Bruins, behind Johnny Bucyk (48) and Pit Martin (42). Of course, Martin would soon be gone to the Chicago Blackhawks in the trade that brought Phil Esposito to the Bruins.

Bobby won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year but was denied the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman. That award went to Harry Howell of the New York Rangers. Orr would win the Calder over the next eight consecutive seasons.

As for the Bruins, 1966-67 was the last of eight consecutive seasons missing the post season. Starting in 1967-68, the team would qualify for the playoffs every year until 1996-97.