Posts Tagged ‘King Clancy Trophy’

I think that is is nearly impossible to find someone who dislikes Lanny McDonald. I mean, how can you? His red hair and big bushy moustache makes him look like a lovable cartoon character; he is Yosemite Sam on skates. In fact, I would argue that he is more known for his facial hair than his actual playing days. This was at least true for me, so I decided to look at his career and see what sort of numbers Lanny put up. What I found left me scratching my head (but only a little) as to why is is in the Hall of Fame. Let me explain…

McDonald was taken by the Maple Leafs with the 4th overall pick in the 1973 draft. He would play in 70 of the 78 games during the ’73-’74 season as a 20 year old and put up a modest 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists). The following season would see similar production (44 points in 64 games) and it would not be until his third season that McDonald would really show the NHL his offensive skills.

From ’75-’76 to ’81-’82 (7 seasons), McDonald would average 41 goals and 44 assists. He finished in the top 10 in goals three times and in the top 10 in total points twice. He would play in two All-Star games and be named to the NHL All-Star 2nd Team once. It is hard to argue with the goals and points, but McDonald never cracked 100 points during that span and was not even considered one of the premier forwards in the league as evident by only two All Star games in seven seasons. Heck, he was even traded twice during that span, first from the Leafs to the Rockies and then from the Rockies to the Flames. Rarely do superstar players switch teams that often, especially during the 70′s and 80′s.

McDonald’s best statistical season came during the ’82-’83 campaign. McDonald would lock horns with Gretzky in a goal scoring race. He would ultimately finish second, scoring 66 goals to Gretzky’s 71. That same season, McDonald had the dubious honor of scoring twice as many goals as assists (hard to do) and for scoring the most goals without reaching 100 total points. He would make another NHL All-Star 2nd Team and play in an All Star game while taking home the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

McDonald would go on to put up a couple of other solid seasons but suffered from numerous injuries that kept him out. It was not until the ’88-’89 season, his last, that Lanny would finally win what every hockey player dreams of, the Stanley Cup. Even better, he would score the game winner in Game 6 and cement his status as a Calgary legend. He would finish his career with 500 career goals and 1006 total points. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992, his first year of eligibility.

Looking over his body of work, Lanny was a very good player for about 8-9 years. I don’t think he was ever considered dominant or the best at his position at any given moment. His career numbers are good. There are worse numbers players in the Hall and there are better players not in. What I have to understand is that numbers, especially in hockey, do not always tell the complete story. Lanny was, by all accounts, a great teammate. He was the captain of two different teams. He brought the first and only Stanley Cup to Calgary and is regarded as a hero there and his number was the first retired by the organization.

Above all, though, Lanny looked like a hockey player and that may be his enduring legacy. Everyone knows his moustache; he could almost be a mascot for a team. And almost every hockey fan can not help but smile when they see a grizzled veteran like McDonald raising the Cup joyfully over his head.

This card illustrates wonderfully one last reason why Lanny should be in the Hall of Fame: his signature. Just look at it! Is it not a thing of absolute beauty? I think the horizontal layout works perfectly for his autograph. You can read every letter and having it on the white background makes it pop out. And best of all, it features his moustache in all of it’s walrus-like glory!

Went to the monthly card show on the NH/MA border with my usual $100 budget. Sort of like the $50k eBay challenge, only on a much smaller scale.

Don Awrey was signing, but I passed. What in the world am I going to do with a Don Awrey autograph? Anyways, the usual dealers were there. I like this show because it’s not just filled with new stuff. There is very little wax to be had and a nice variety of all sports. One guy had a ton of vintage non-sport tobacco cards that really caught my eye, but I need to stick to my collection.

I passed on buying anything from the vintage Bruins guy because I wanted to go for quantity over quality today. That’s not to say I picked up beat-to-hell stuff, just no high end vintage. I bought two cards from the Islanders dealer (you’ll be able to guess which two). The other cards were all purchased from one guy who hadn’t been set up before. A real nice guy with tons of bargains.

Onto the goods!

1965-66 Topps #41 Sid Abel

Hall of Fame player and former Hart Trophy winner, mediocre coach. Easy on the pomade, Sid.

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1967-68 Topps #37 Don Awrey

This is not Don Awrey. Topps got his and this guy’s photo switched on the cards. An apparently, no one told Topps because they did the same thing the next year with the same players and photos. Can anyone guess who it is without looking it up?

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1968-69 O-Pee-Chee #123 Tim Horton

Donuts!

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1970-71 O-Pee-Chee #249 Johnny Bucyk

He just looks like he’d be a class act, doesn’t he?

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1971-72 O-Pee-Chee #220 Ed Giacomin

This is what you would look like coming off a Vezina Trophy winning season.

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1971-72 O-Pee-Chee Bookley #4 Jacques Plante

Oddball alert! Oddball alert!

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1972-73 O-Pee-Chee #28 Gump Worsley

All the Gumper is missing is a cigarette hangin’ out of his mouth.

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1972-73 O-Pee-Chee #68 Wayne Cashman

Wayne enjoys water skiing. Wayne would also enjoy being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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1972-73 O-Pee-Chee #92 Jacques Plante

This is Jacques last NHL card  (he’d be featured on a WHA for the 74-75 season).

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1972-73 O-Pee-Chee #114 Brad Park

I don’t have much to say about this card. It’s Brad Park and it’s a solid set. That is all.

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1974-75 O-Pee-Chee #151 Dave Keon

Ah, now we get into the era of hockey cards that feature really crummy photography. Hey Dave, stand in front of this blue tarp and look menacing, will ya?

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1974-75 O-Pee-Chee #202 Jacques Laperriere

Okay, Jacques? I need you to comb your hair ALL THE WAY over to the side and then look creepily into the camera. Okay? Hold that pose. GOT IT! But next time could you grow a creepy moustache?

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1975-76 O-Pee-Chee #73 Derek Sanderson

How many lines do you think Turk did before this photo? 1? 15? 50?

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1975-76 O-Pee-Chee #181 Steve Shutt

Whoa, an action shot! Way to step it up, O-Pee-Chee!

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1975-76 O-Pee-Chee #241 Larry Robinson

Jacques, THIS is how it’s done!

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1976-77 O-Pee-Chee #30 Yvan Cournoyer

Where the heck was this photo taken? There are not other players to be seen nor are there any lines on the ice?

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1976-77 O-Pee-Chee #60 Brad Park

Damn right Park was a 1st Team All-Star. I wonder what that patch is on this shoulder. Anyone?

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1976-77 O-Pee-Chee #90 Rod Gilbert

Hi, I’m Rod Gilbert and I just nailed your wife.

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1976-77 O-Pee-Chee # 180 Gilbert Perreault

Again with the lonely shot. Are he and Cournoyer playing one-on-one?

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1976-77 O-Pee-Chee #207 Darryl Sittler

I just learned that Sittler had 10 points in a single game. I also learned that his head of hair is all natural.

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1978-79 O-Pee-Chee #50 Ken Dryden

Was Dryden crazy good or just the beneficiary of a great system? Same argument applies to Brodeur. Martin, not Richard. Richard relied on his own talent.

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1979-80 O-Pee-Chee  #230 Mike Bossy

I love everything about this card, front and back. A perfect card, really.

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1980-81 O-Pee-Chee #40 Bryan Trottier

Why is this card only worth $2.50?!?!?

So that’s it. The highlight of the show was when the promoter brought in a couple large cheese pizzas for the dealers and every single one of them practically sprinted from their table to get a slice leaving customers behind. I’ve never seen a 200-250 pound, middle-aged white men move quite that fast before.

Let me ask you, would you rather rather spend $80 on a Tavares rookie or some low-serial numbered card OR buy a nice stack of vintage O-Pee-Chee Hall of Famers?