1979-80 O-Pee-Chee 175 Gordie Howe Hockey Card (Front)
1979-80 O-Pee-Chee 175 Gordie Howe Hockey Card (Back)
1979-80 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
Gordie scored the 1000th Goal of his pro career for Whalers vs. Bulls, 12-7-77.
En Français
Gordie marqua le 1000ème but de sa carrière professionnelle le 7 décembre 1977 contre les Bulls.
Details
The info snippet on the back of this 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee hockey card is an ERROR. Gordie finished his major league career with a combined 875 regular season goals between the NHL and the WHA. In the playoffs, he scored an additional 96 between the two leagues. This still would leave him with a career total of 971 so he definitely didn’t score number 1,000 in 1977.
This was the ‘real’ farewell tour season for Gordie Howe, not the sort of farewell tour that was the 1970-71 season. After the WHA merged into the NHL for 1979-80, Gordie and the New England Whalers came along for the ride. The name changed from New England to Hartford and Howe played in all 80 games for the club.
He could still contribute, as well. Gordie scored 15 and assisted on 26 for 41 points. Not the numbers that he used to put up but pretty good for a guy over 50. His old skills came through on the night of November 2, 1979 in a home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Springfield Civic Center.
That night, Hartford came out on top 5-3 with Howe scoring a pair and assisting on a goal by Mike Rogers. Not quite a Gordie Howe Hat Trick, but perhaps a seniors version, Gordie also received a minor for holding. Son Mark Howe had a goal and assist while Rogers added three assists for a four point night. Mike Palmateer was in the nets for the Maple Leafs in the losing cause.
Between 1946-47 and 1979-80, Gordie Howe played in 1,767 regular season and 157 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers. He also appeared in 419 regular season and 78 playoff games in the WHA between 1973-74 and 1978-79 with the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers.