1974-75 O-Pee-Chee WHA

The 1974-75 O-Pee-Chee WHA set consists of 66 hockey cards. This was the first set by the collectibles producer dedicated inclusively to the World Hockey Association. The 1972-73 NHL collection featured WHA players at the end of the set. There was also a Quaker Oats set previous to that for the 1973-74 season.

The gem of the 1974-75 WHA set is card number 1 featuring the Howe family from the Houston Aeros. Oddly, this card is the only card in the set of either Gordie, Mark or Marty Howe. The league’s pinnacle players did not have individual cards of their own. This card is considered the rookie card for both Mark Howe and Marty Howe.

Because it was a new league with many European players and guys who were lifetime minor leaguers, many of the 66 cards were rookie cards. Significant RCs include Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg of the Winnipeg Jets, Gilles Gratton of the Toronto Toros and Real Cloutier of the Quebec Nordiques.

The most valuable cards in the set, after the Howe card, belong to Gerry Cheevers (Cleveland Crusaders), Frank Mahovlich (Toronto Toros), Bobby Hull (Winnipeg Jets) and Jacques Plante (Edmonton Oilers).

1974-75 O-Pee-Chee WHA Hockey Cards

Back To WHA Hockey Card Index

1974-75 WHA Final Standings

1974-75 WHA Scoring Leaders

1974-75 WHA Season

1974-75 was the third season of existence for the rebel league known as the World Hockey Association. The WHA added two teams, upping the number to 14 from 12 in 1973-74. The league moved to a three division format with the Canadian Division containing five teams, the Eastern Division with four and the Western with five. Previously, there were two divisions of six team.

The Houston Aeros, with the help of Gordie Howe and his two sons, Mark and Marty, finished first overall with 106 points. The Indianapolis Racers were on the opposite end of the spectrum, finishing last overall with just 18 wins and 39 points.

The Aeros would lose just one game in the opening round of the playoffs against the Cleveland Crusaders before sweeping their way to the Avco World Trophy championship. In the semi-final, the San Diego Mariners were their victim. In the final, it was the Quebec Nordiques that fell in four games. Ron Grahame, Houston goaltender, was named the most valuable player in the playoffs.

Andre Lacroix of the Mariners won the Bill Hunter Trophy as the WHA’s top scorer, leading the way with 147 points. Bobby Hull, aided by his incredible 77 goal performance for the Winnipeg Jets, was named MVP, taking the Gary L. Davidson Award.

1974-75 WHA All-Stars

The 1974-75 World Hockey Association All-Stars include three legends of the game that ended up in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull would remain in the WHA until the bitter end. For Gerry Cheevers, it was his third year with the Cleveland Crusaders. The following year, 1975-76, he would start the year in Ohio but would be back between the pipes for the Boston Bruins midway through the season.