Classic Hockey Cards - The Leafs' First Goal Scorer!

A while back I acquired my very first 1933-34 O-Pee-Chee card, of none other than Bun Cook.  Today's post features my second card from this iconic, inaugural set from everyone's favorite hockey card manufacturer:

George Patterson may not have enjoyed the most distinguished career at the NHL level, and when you look up the '33-34 O-Pee-Chee set in your latest price guide you'll notice he's a common.  There are still so many great things about this card though, including but not limited to:

• Again, you just can't go wrong with any card at all from the first ever O-Pee-Chee set
• George scored the very first goal in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs (well, the first goal after Conn Smythe named them the Leafs)
• It's a bit tough to see, but featured on the card is a sweet New York Americans sweater.  They existed from 1925 until 1942, when a combination of financial strain and World War II effectively put an end to the franchise.  I could (and should) do a whole post on just that franchise sometime.
• Over a 20-year professional career George played ALL OVER THE PLACE, including Kitchener, Hamilton, Toronto and Montreal in Canada.  As far as the United States goes, how about New York, New Haven, Boston, Detroit, St. Louis, Buffalo, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Hershey, and even right down the street from me in Providence!  That's a man who just loves the sport right there.
• Missed time in 1931 after breaking his arm in a fall suffered during a horse race with drunken teammates at a bootlegger's farm.

There's no way I'm going to top that last one, so I'll stop there...

Here's a closer look at the card.  There is one large crease that goes right through Patterson's skates, but other than that this one is a beauty!  Much better shape than my first card from this set, that's for sure.

Finally, a look at the backs, which are the least exciting thing about these cards if I'm being fair.  I don't delude myself into thinking I'll ever finish this set (Howie Morenz and Eddie Shore combined book at $4,000 alone), but I'll certainly pick up cheap examples like this whenever and wherever I can!