1980-81 O-Pee-Chee 242 Rick Vaive Hockey Card (Front)
Catch 22: My Battles, in Hockey and Life
Rick Vaive shares the highs and challenges of his hockey career and personal life in this candid memoir, offering insight into the pressures, triumphs, and battles both on and off the ice.
Buy on Amazon1980-81 O-Pee-Chee 242 Rick Vaive Hockey Card (Back)
1980-81 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Looking to buy this hockey card? Check out what’s available at eBay: Rick Vaive 1980-81
(As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase through the above link)
Card Notes
An excellent skater with exceptional quickness and fine balance. Was Birmingham Bulls’ leading scorer in WHA, 1978-79. 5 game-winning goals, ’79-80.
Trivia snippet: Goalie Jiri Crha is Leafs’ first Czechoslovakian born player.
En Français
Un excellent patineur qui est exceptionnellement rapide et garde bien son équilibre. Meilleur compteur des Bulls de Birmingham de l’AMH en 1978-79. Cinq buts gagnant en 1979-80.
Le gardien Jiri Crha est le premier natif de Tchécoslovaquie à jouer pour les Leafs.
Details
Rick Vaive did lead the Birmingham Bulls with 59 points in 1978-79, his rookie season in pro hockey. His 26 goals were two behind team leader Michel Goulet. Vaive also led the Bulls with 248 penalty minutes. That number placed him in a tie with Scott Campbell of the Winnipeg Jets for the league lead.
The Vancouver Canucks selected Vaive fifth overall in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. Ahead of him were Rob Ramage (Colorado), Perry Turnbull (St. Louis), Mike Foligno (Detroit) and Mike Gartner (Washington). Eleven of the 21 first round picks that year went on to play over 1,000 games in the NHL. All 21 had NHL careers with Ray Allison playing the least at 236 games.
Vancouver didn’t hold onto Rick long, though. After playing just 47 games with the club in 1979-80, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs with Bill Derlago for Dave Williams and Jerry Butler. With Toronto, he made franchise history.
Rick Vaive became the first member of the Toronto Maple Leafs to reach the 50 goal plateau in a single season. On March 24, 1982, the Buds were hosting the St. Louis Blues at Maple Leaf Gardens. At 14:57 of the first period, Rick scored his 50th goal of the season, assisted by Bill Derlago and Jim Benning. He also had two assists for a three point night.
Vaive would go on to score 54 goals that year, a franchise record that would stand until Auston Matthews scored 60 in 2021-22. Rick would top the 50 goal plateau in the following two seasons, as well.
Between 1979-80 and 1991-92, Vaive played in 876 regular season and 54 playoff games in the National Hockey League. Along with the Maple Leafs and Canucks, he also appeared with the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres.
Rick put up a Gordie Howe Hat Trick on December 6, 1980 against the Quebec Nordiques.
Jiri Crha
As for the first Czech to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jiri Crha wasn’t around long. He played 15 games in 1979-80 and 54 in 1980-81, his only action in the National Hockey League. Interestingly, his only hockey card appears in the 1981-82 O-Pee-Chee set.
Rick Vaive NHL Career Stats
Regular Season
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1979-80 | Vancouver Canucks | 47 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 111 |
| 1979-80 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 22 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 77 |
| 1980-81 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 75 | 33 | 29 | 62 | 229 |
| 1981-82 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 77 | 54 | 35 | 89 | 157 |
| 1982-83 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 78 | 51 | 28 | 79 | 105 |
| 1983-84 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 76 | 52 | 41 | 93 | 114 |
| 1984-85 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 72 | 35 | 33 | 68 | 112 |
| 1985-86 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 61 | 33 | 31 | 64 | 85 |
| 1986-87 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 73 | 32 | 34 | 66 | 61 |
| 1987-88 | Chicago Blackhawks | 76 | 43 | 26 | 69 | 108 |
| 1988-89 | Chicago Blackhawks | 30 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 60 |
| 1988-89 | Buffalo Sabres | 28 | 19 | 13 | 32 | 64 |
| 1989-90 | Buffalo Sabres | 70 | 29 | 19 | 48 | 74 |
| 1990-91 | Buffalo Sabres | 71 | 25 | 27 | 52 | 74 |
| 1991-92 | Buffalo Sabres | 20 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 14 |
| Totals | 876 | 441 | 347 | 788 | 1445 |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1979-80 | Vancouver Canucks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979-80 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| 1980-81 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 1981-82 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982-83 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| 1983-84 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984-85 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985-86 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 9 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 9 |
| 1986-87 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 13 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 23 |
| 1987-88 | Chicago Blackhawks | 5 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 38 |
| 1988-89 | Chicago Blackhawks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988-89 | Buffalo Sabres | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| 1989-90 | Buffalo Sabres | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 1990-91 | Buffalo Sabres | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 1991-92 | Buffalo Sabres | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 54 | 27 | 16 | 43 | 111 |