1980 O-Pee-Chee Boston Bruins Hockey Trading Card (Back)

This item is the reverse side of a vintage 1980 O-Pee-Chee hockey trading card, featuring biographical and statistical information about a Boston Bruins player drafted in 1979. The card is predominantly yellow with a green top border and green rectangular sections for text. The card number '140' is visible within a white puck-shaped graphic in the upper left corner. Details include player height (5'11"), weight (197 lbs), shooting hand (left), first pro season (1979-80), acquisition method (Via Draft), birthdate (12-28-60), and birthplace/home (Montreal, Quebec). There's a bilingual description of the player's skills, noting their puck-handling, skating, and poise. A stat line for the 1979-80 season shows 80 games played, 17 goals, 48 assists, 65 points, and 73 penalty minutes. The bottom edge includes the copyright '© 1980 O-PEE-CHEE PRINTED IN CANADA'. A small graphic on the right depicts hockey sticks and a puck, with text about a Bruins' NHL record. The card shows general wear consistent with its age, including slight rounding of corners and some visible surface dirt or light discoloration, particularly along the edges and in the yellow background. The print quality appears standard for the era, with clear, legible text. No significant damage like creases or tears are overtly visible, suggesting a good, but not necessarily mint, vintage condition. Its craftsmanship is typical of mass-produced trading cards from the early 1980s.

Upon examining the provided image of the 1980 O-Pee-Chee Boston Bruins Hockey Trading Card (Back), identified as Ray Bourque, I observe a card in what I would assess as very good-excellent vintage condition. The corners show slight rounding, consistent with common handling and storage over four decades, but no severe dings or creases are evident. The surface exhibits some minor discoloration or dirt, primarily along edges and in the yellow background, which is typical for a card of this age and print quality. Text is clear and legible. Based solely on this image, the card appears authentic to the era and manufacturer, displaying characteristic O-Pee-Chee design elements and print methods. Ray Bourque's rookie card is highly desirable, and his status as a Hall of Famer significantly elevates its market value. The 1980 O-Pee-Chee set is known for its relatively lower print runs compared to Topps, adding to its rarity. Demand for vintage hockey rookie cards of elite players remains robust. However, it's critical to note the limitations of image-based appraisal. I cannot definitively verify authenticity without physical inspection to assess card stock, print registration, ink dots, and potential alterations (e.g., trimming, recoloring). A blacklight test would confirm the absence of modern enhancements. Given the card's potential value, professional third-party grading (e.g., PSA, Beckett, SGC) is strongly recommended for full authentication, condition assessment, and to maximize market value. Provenance, while not typically available for raw cards, could add further confidence if documented. My valuation assumes the card would grade in the PSA 6-7 range, based on visual assessment.