Card of the Month - June 2009

1974-75 Topps - #169 - Kansas City Scouts Team Card

For this month's card of the month, I've chosen this beauty from the 1974-75 Topps set symbolizing the entry of the Kansas City Scouts into the NHL. If you didn't realize this team ever existed, it would be hard to blame you. They were around for only two seasons before their owners, nearly 1 million dollars in debt, relocated the team to Denver where they became known as the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies didn't last too long either, and eventually became the modern-day New Jersey Devils franchise.

The Scouts were named after a famous statue (the "Kansas City Scout" obviously) that overlooks downtown Kansas City. Their two seasons in the league were absolutely abysmal. In their first season they lost their final 21 games of the season. In their second and final season they won only a single game out of their final 44 games!

Even though the Scouts are generally seen as an expansion failure, and it's hard to argue otherwise, this card to me symbolizes an unique period in NHL history and is a welcome part of my collection.