1955-56 Parkhurst 44 Jean Beliveau Hockey Card (Front)
1955-56 Parkhurst 44 Jean Beliveau Hockey Card (Back)
1955-56 Parkhurst NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
When he entered the NHL a couple of years ago, big Jean was reported to have received the largest contract ever given an NHL-er. Plagued with injuries in his first season, he came into his own last year finishing third in the scoring race and being selected All-Star centreman on the NHL “dream team”. A big, easy-going individual, he has a wicked shot, can lay a perfect pass and is rugged.
En Français
Lorsqu’il joignit la NHL, Jean se vit accorder le contrat le plus avantageux qui fut jamais. Poursuivi par la guigne pendant sa première saison, il retrouva sa forme l’année dernière, finit troisième pour le total des points et fut choisi centre pour “l’équipe idéale” d’Etoiles de la NHL. Imposant et calme, il passe parfaitement un lancer dangereux.
Details
In the 1954-55 NHL season mentioned on the back of this 1955-56 Parkhurst hockey card, Jean Beliveau was behind only teammates Bernie Geoffrion and Maurice Richard in the race for the Art Ross Trophy. In 1955-56, Le Gros Bill won the Art Ross for the only time during his legendary NHL career.
His 47 goals in 1955-56 gave him the league lead with a nine goal edge over both Rocket Richard and Gordie Howe. It was also a nine point edge over Howe for the Art Ross Trophy. That year, Jean won his first of two Hart Trophies in a close battle with Tod Sloan of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Gump Worsley of the New York Rangers.
If the Conn Smythe Trophy existed in 55-56, Beliveau would have surely won the award for playoff MVP. In ten games, he scored 12 goals and totaled 19 points as the Habs captured their first of five consecutive Stanley Cup championships. Seven of those goals were scored over five games in the final series against the Detroit Red Wings. He had a three point game in the series clinching game five win.
Between 1950-51 and 1970-71, Jean Beliveau played 1,125 regular season and 162 playoff games in the National Hockey League, all with the Montreal Canadiens. The ten time Stanley Cup champion did receive the Conn Smythe Trophy once, in 1964-65, the first year the award was handed out. Beliveau was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.