Bruins Friday! I’m actually writing this on Thursday night. I just watched the B’s give up a 2-0 lead against the Habs in the span of about thirty seconds. I can’t even bear to watch the 3rd period, so I’m not going to.

So…Woody Dumart. In doing some research on Dumart, I’ve had to reshape my thinking on early hockey numbers. Like Clint Smith, nothing really pops out at first. Dumart’s single season high for goals scored was 24. He scored 20 or more goals five times during his sixteen year career. He played in only two All-Star games, was voted to the 2nd NHL All-Star team three times, and never won any major individual awards. On paper, nothing remarkable. This is my mistake.

When looking at Hall of Fame credentials, it’s important to look at the era and impact within that era. Three times, Dumart finished in the top ten in goals and twice in assists, so he was a gifted offensive player during his time. He also skated on the famed Kraut Line with fellow Hall of Famers Milt Schmidt and Bobby Bauer which helped the Bruins win two Stanley Cups. The Kraut Line was, at the time, potent and feared. During the 39-40 season, Schmidt, Dumart, and Bauer finished 1-2-3 in scoring respectively. The numbers now look rather pedestrian, but during the 30′s, they were huge. And those five 20 goal seasons? By today’s standards, not that amazing. But when Dumart retired, only 21 other players could claim that feat.

Dumart, like many other NHL players, lost four years to the war, serving in the Canadian military. These four years came when Dumart was in his mid-20′s, so he missed out on the prime of his career. In fact, after the B’s won their second Cup in 40-41, he left for the war. Without the war, perhaps the Kraut Line helps Boston win another Cup or two.

Dumart was also considered one of the better defensive forwards of his time, always drawing the checking assignment for the opponents top right winger (Richard, Howe, et al). Maybe a Selke winner if it had been around? He also was known around the league for having one of the heaviest shots.

Dumart retired after the 53-54 season, playing his entire career with the Bruins and, at the time, their all-time leading scorer at left wing. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992 and died in 2001.

The 52-53 Parhurst are nice looking cards. I like the smallness of them and the artwork on the front. The backs are simple and clean. I think I prefer the 51-52 set a little more if only because I like the text on the front. The blank back hurts it a little for me. If they had combined the fronts of the 51-52′s and th backs of the 52-53′s, it’d be the perfect set.

This particular card fits into two sections of my personal collection: Bruins and Hall of Famers. He has only one certified autograph. It’s out of 01-02 Parkhurst and apparently they only made 20 of them. There is no price in Beckett due to scarcity and it’s probably my #1 autograph want at the moment.

Oh, and ever wonder what the special album you could send away for looked like?

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