1968-69 O-Pee-Chee 37 Bill White Hockey Card (Front)
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee 37 Bill White Hockey Card (Back)
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Card Notes
“Whitey” was a top-notch minor league defenseman of the AHL Springfield Indians for five years prior to heading for Los Angeles in 1967. At 6-2, 190, Bill has size in his favor. He played his junior hockey in the Toronto chain.
Details
Of course, the thing that stands out on the front of this 1968-69 O-Pee-Chee Bill White hockey card is that his right leg is missing below the knee and it looks more like a golf club than a hockey stick that he’s holding. But, that was just normal for the 1968-69 O-Pee-Chee NHL set.
White’s minor league career prior to the 1967-68 NHL expansion season was nearly as long as his days in the National Hockey League. He played in the American Hockey League for eight seasons from 1959-60 to 1966-67 with the Rochester Americans and Springfield Indians. Although a success as a defenseman, his teams weren’t. Bill played just two games in the Calder Cup playoffs.
He instantly became a regular in the NHL once he got his shot with the Los Angeles Kings. However, it wasn’t until a February 20, 1970 trade sent him to the Chicago Blackhawks that Bill really made his mark. In that blockbuster, Bryan Campbell and Gerry Desjardins joined him on the journey to the Windy City while Denis DeJordy, Gilles Marotte and Jim Stanfield went in the other direction.
Bill’s junior days were spent with the Toronto Marlboros from 1957-58 to 1959-60. He would return to the club in 1978-79 to serve as head coach for a single season.
Bill White played 604 regular season and 91 Stanley Cup playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1967-68 and 1975-76. He played with the Kings and Blackhawks and even had a turn as head coach in Chicago during the 1976-77 NHL season.