1969-70 O-Pee-Chee & Topps

Like in the previous season, the Canadian version had two series, while the American version only had one. They still couldn't make everything match though, with Derek Sanderson having different numbers, and Glen Sather having different pictures.

O-Pee-Chee has a couple of odd variations in its trophy subsets (yes, there are two trophy subsets – one where the card features the player who won the trophy, and one just showing the physical trophy). There were two print runs, and the errors were (kind of) corrected during the second run.

1. Card #205, representing Phil Esposito for both the Art Ross and Hart trophies, always has the wrong number printed on the back (214) but can sometimes be found with the right number printed on the front (#205B). The one with no number on the front is slightly easier to find (in my experience).
2. Card #226, showing the Vezina Trophy, can sometimes be found with a faint yellow "Bobby Orr" stamped on the back (#226B). This variation appeared during the second print run, and is less common.
3. Card #228, showing the James Norris Trophy, can sometimes be found with a faint yellow "Phil Esposito" stamped on the back (#228B). Again, the stamped variation is less common.

The price guides make no distinction for the latter two; and since the back is just a portion of a puzzle, these cards are often offered up with only pictures of the front, and the seller may have no idea about the back.

There are some other differences, or cards that might not seem to belong on the list:

1. Derek Sanderson is #31 in Topps, and #201 in O-Pee-Chee (where #31 is a checklist).
2. Glen Sather was traded to the Penguins mid-season; in Topps he is in a Bruins uniform, but since O-Pee-Chee went to press later, they were able to use an updated photo in his new duds. I collected both because I'm pedantic.
3. The Alex Delvecchio Lady Byng Trophy card (#206) has Bobby Orr's face on the back – so, technically, not a part of the Bruins team set, but a keeper nonetheless.
4. There are apparently Topps versions of the O-Pee-Chee stamps issued in series 1 packs, but I have no idea which variation I have, and have no intention of trying to have both.