Player Biography: Bobby Orr

[ScottM]

 

                A man has his arms extended in celebration. He soars through the air after being tripped. He has just scored the goal that secured the most coveted trophy in sports for his team. There he is, forever frozen in time.

 

                Look up a list of the most iconic photos in sports history and the photograph of Bobby Orr that was snapped after he scored the Stanley Cup clinching goal in 1970 will be somewhere on that list. It is fitting that one of the players that has most influenced the game of hockey should be the subject of its most famous photograph. Bobby Orr revolutionized the defenseman position.

 

                Robert Gordon Orr was born on March 20, 1948 in Parry Sound, Ontario. He began playing hockey at age five as a forward, but his first coach, Royce Tennant, made a decision that would change the future of hockey when he moved the young Orr to defense. The risks of letting such a young player take on the role of a rushing defenseman were obvious, but the move was successful. Orr provided excellent play on the blue line while giving a major boost to his team’s offense. At ages 11 and 12, he was coached by former NHLer Bucko McDonald who helped teach young Bobby the ins and outs of his position and encouraged him to continue to use his offensive skills.

 

                At the age of 14, Orr joined the Oshawa Generals, the junior affiliate of the Boston Bruins. In his first season with the General, Orr continued to live to home, never attended practice with the team, and commuted to each game, and yet he was named to the league’s second all-star team. He would be named an all-star in three of his four seasons with the Generals.

 

                In 1966, the 17-year-old Orr was called up to play for the Bruins. When he joined the Bruins, the team hadn’t won the Stanley Cup since 1941, and hadn’t even made the playoffs since 1959. In his inaugural NHL season, Orr won the Calder Trophy after posting a 13 goal, 28 assist season. His offensive stats were unheard of for defensemen in the NHL of that day. Prior to Orr, the position of defenseman was considered a purely defensive position. A d-man of that day was expected to clear the puck out of his team’s zone and feed the forwards as they went on the rush. Most blueliners of Orr’s day seldom joined the rush, and yet Orr often led it.

 

                In Orr’s second season, the B’s made the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons. In his third season, he would amass 21 goals and 43 assists. By now, it was quite clear that Bobby was a special player, but it was his fourth season that would establish him as a legend. Orr became the only player in NHL history to win four major awards in a single season, winning the Hart, Art Ross, Norris, and Hart Trophies that season after posting 33 goals and 87 assists.

 

                The Bruins would make the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1958 that season and face the St. Louis Blues, who were in only their third season in the league. Due to the way the divisions were configured after the 1967 expansion – the expansion teams were given their own division – the Blues made the Finals in each of their first three seasons. The Canadiens swept St. Louis in 1968 and 1969. In similar fashion, the Bruins handled the fledgling Blues comfortably in the first three games of the 1970 series, but the Blues would give their opponents a stiffer challenge in game four. That contest went to overtime. Forty seconds into the overtime period, Orr took a pass from Derek Sanderson and skated in front of the Blues’ net. He put the puck on goal and was tripped by Noel Picard. As he flew through the air, he watched the puck pass netminder Glenn Hall to give the Bruins their first title in nearly 3 decades and Orr his first. That moment was immortalized by the most famous photo in hockey history.

 

                In the 1970-71 season, Orr would set the league record for assists in a season with 102. Since he set the record, only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux have had more assists in a single season, and no player besides those three have ever posted triple-digit assists. He also set the league record for plus-minus that year with a +124 rating. Besides Orr, only Larry Robinson who had a +120 in 1976-77 has eclipsed +100, and Orr’s record still stands. Orr also posted 139 points on the season, which would have set a league record had teammate Phil Esposito not posted 152 points that season. The Bruins were heavy favorites to repeat as Stanley Cup champions that year, but would be upset by the Canadiens in the playoffs. Orr, however, won his second consecutive Hart Trophy.

 

                In the 1971-72 season, Orr would win his third straight Hart Trophy and be named the MVP of the All-Star game. The Bruins would return to the pinnacle of the hockey world that season, as they would defeat the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Finals. Orr would once again win the Conn Smythe Trophy, making him the first repeat winner of the award.

 

                Orr would make one more Finals appearance with the Bruins, when the team would drop to the Flyers in 1974. In 1975, he would once again win the Art Ross Trophy and cap off a run of 8 consecutive Norris Trophy wins and be named a first-team all-star for the eighth consecutive year.

 

                Sadly, the 1974-75 season would be Orr’s final full season in the NHL. Orr’s style of play was very hard on his left knee. Orr said his knee was operated on “13 or 14 times.” Orr would spend one more season with the Bruins, followed by two with the Blackhawks, but he would only play 36 total games in those three years.

 

                He would, however, have one last hurrah. In the 1976 Canada Cup, Orr would tie with Viktor Zhluktov of the Soviet Union and Canadian teammate Denis Potvin for the tournament lead with nine points and be named MVP of the tournament as Canada took home the gold.

 

                Upon his retirement in 1979, the 31-year-old Orr would be immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, having the mandatory waiting period waived. He is the youngest inductee in the history of the hall. Orr’s career statistics are astonishing. He racked up 915 points in just 657 career games. His 1.393 points per game average is the fifth-highest in league history, and the highest among defensemen. He won the Norris Trophy eight times, the Hart Trophy three times, and the Art Ross and Conn Smythe Trophies twice each.

 

                One cannot help but wonder what heights he might have reached had injuries not plagued his career. He may have had the most complete skill set in the history of the game. His coach, Harry Sinden once said of him, “He's the perfect hockey player. (Gordie) Howe could do everything, but not at top speed. (Bobby) Hull went at top speed but couldn't do everything. The physical aspect is absent from (Wayne) Gretzky's game. Orr would do everything, and do it at top speed.” In spite of the shortness of his career, Bobby Orr changed the way the game was played. It hasn’t been the same since Orr, and we’re all grateful he came along.

 

Further reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Orr

http://bruinslegends.blogspot.com/2006/10/bobby-orr.html

http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p197902&type=Player&page=bio&list=

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/o/orrbo01.html

[flyercanuck]

Best player ever. Was also name to the Order of Canada, was a flagbearer at the 2010 olympics in Vancouver, has a school, a community center and a museum named after him. One of the things I really respected from him was hockey was one thing and he was front and center in it. But his personal life was personal, and very few were allowed into that world. Thanks for the read Scott.

[yave1964]

the fact that his career ended before his 30th birthday and he is still in the conversation as to the greatest player of all time speaks volumes. Every puck moving blue liner for the past 40 years has been compared to Orr, unfavorably BTW. Just a marvel, his vision on the ice was second to none ever.

[jammer2]

@ScottM  Very nice piece Scott, an honour to read that!! 

 

  Great story from BobbyOrr.net....Ray Lussier, a veteran New England photographer, took the famous shot. He only got into the right position because the photographer who originally had the spot took off to go get a beer inbetween the end of the 3rd and the start of OT.

 

 "

The Famous Bobby Orr Photo Story

The one-of-a-kind Bruins' legend takes time out of a hectic schedule every year to have dinner and meet with the 100 finalists -- all age 17 and under -- who write the top essays on what it takes to be a Good Sport.

What's amazing about all of this is that none of the young people were born back on May 10, 1970, when Orr scored his first Stanley Cup-winning goal for the Bruins just 40 seconds into overtime. But all they need is ''the picture'' to remind them.

The story that many people don't know centers on that most famous hockey photo of all-time. It's the most famous New England sports photo ever, snapped by a veteran photographer from the Boston area.

Thanks to the late Ray Lussier, who lived in Atkinson, N.H., Orr's magical split-second flying-through-the-air photo is a moment forever frozen in time. And he always enjoyed telling the story of how he took it.

Boston Garden, Game 4, the Stanley Cup finals, against St. Louis on a 93-degree spring Sunday afternoon: Johnny Bucyk's goal had tied the game at 3-3, forcing overtime and a chance for the Bruins to win their first Cup in 29 years before the home crowd.

Photographers lucky enough to be given stools were assigned to front row cubby-holes cut in the protective glass along the boards. They were located in the four corners of the rink. Hunched over, all trying to peek through their lenses without getting hit by a puck.

Lussier had been shooting action for the old Boston Record-American from a corner in the East end. But when the Zamboni rolled out after the third period to make new ice for sudden-death overtime, Lussier figured the Bruins would be going for broke to win it at home, meaning the action would take place in the West end of the rink if they scored.

So Ray went searching for a better place. Sure enough, he found an empty stool and ''shooting hole'' in the opposite end which was momentarily vacated. A competing Boston newspaper photographer, who had the spot, jaunted off during the intermission to a nearby beer stand underneath the seating area.

Oh! Was it ever steamy in the old Garden that day. Take it from someone who wore a suit and tie for the sauna that day. Officially the crowd was 13,909, but add a couple thousand more counting those who snuck in through fire escapes, or duked $20 bills to ticket takers willing to turn their heads for a moment.

''I figured I'd stay there until the guy came back,'' Lussier recalled years later of the missing thirsty photographer.

He did, 40 seconds into overtime, but it was too late.

In a split-second, history and a memory-making photo happened all at once. Preserved thanks to Ray Lussier: Orr, the Bruins' version of Superman, in mid-air flight, tripped by Blues' defenseman Noel Picard, as helpless St. Louis goalie Glenn Hall realizes the game is over.

Hearing a rafter-shaking roar of the delirious crowd, beer cup in hand, the absent photographer rushed back to his spot, demanding Lussier to give it back.

Re-telling the story, Lussier always snickered at the memory.

''I told him, 'It's all yours. I've got what I need,' ''

Returning to his newsroom as the Bruins and their fans celebrated, Lussier told his boss he thought he had ''a couple of good shots'' of Orr's winning goal and immediately shuffled off to the dark room to develop his film.

When old Record-American sports editor Sam Cohen saw a contact sheet, showing tiny frames of each photo on Ray's roll of film, he pointed to one. Sam was up in years by this time, couldn't hear too well, and had a tendency to shout.

''That one right there!'' Cohen bellowed in his crusty voice at Lussier. ''Print it. Big!''

''I never would have got the picture if that other photographer didn't go running off to get a beer,'' Lussier would laugh, always modest about his great sense for action photos.

Years later, in early June of 1990, Bobby Orr decided to host a 20th anniversary reunion to get the Bruins' 1970 Stanley Cup gang together again. All the players on the team, their wives, trainers, management and media members who covered the team, were invited.

During a phone call one day, Orr asked if there was anybody along with the Bruins' beat writers that we thought should be invited.

Ray Lussier immediately came to mind. Ray, starting a career in 1964, briefly had worked for the old Haverhill Journal before the paper folded.

Orr's reaction was instantaneous.

''Ray,'' he bubbled, ''the one who shot the picture? Of course.''

A few days later the Lussiers got their personal invitation from Number 4.

''Ray was so thrilled to be at that reunion,'' Lussier's wife, Claire, was saying yesterday. ''Bobby Orr had his photo taken with him and the Stanley Cup. Ray was so proud.''

Not long afterwards, in 1991, Ray unexpectedly passed away at age 59. Much too young.

Today, his picture of Orr's magic moment hangs in the sport's cathedral, the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. More than that, it is a treasure for thousands of fans who have copies in their special places, scrapbooks or framed on the walls of their homes.

Bobby Orr left a legacy for being in the right place at the right time.

So did Ray Lussier."

[ScottM]

@jammer2 That was an awesome story. It's always nice to read stories like that about those guys. When they're awesome men in addition to being awesome players, how can you not respect them even more?

[jammer2]

@jammer2 That was an awesome story. It's always nice to read stories like that about those guys. When they're awesome men in addition to being awesome players, how can you not respect them even more?

 

 As skilled and great as Orr was, he is an even better human being. How a guy in this day and age can go *that* many decades without one single scandal is astounding. The first word that comes to mind when I think about Orr is not "great" or "amazing".....it's "classy". Ditto for Stevie Y and Jean Reattle. The Baseball versions....Al Kaline (probably in my top 3 heroes of all time) and Tony Gwynn, who passed much, much to early.

[J0e Th0rnton]

 As skilled and great as Orr was, he is an even better human being. How a guy in this day and age can go *that* many decades without one single scandal is astounding. The first word that comes to mind when I think about Orr is not "great" or "amazing".....it's "classy". Ditto for Stevie Y and Jean Reattle. The Baseball versions....Al Kaline (probably in my top 3 heroes of all time) and Tony Gwynn, who passed much, much to early.

I just read his book. My Dad got it for me.

 

It was actually a very very good read.

[jammer2]

@J0e Th0rnton  I have heard it's a great book, I'll have to check that out.

[blocker]

Most of the class act guys manage to keep their family away from publicity.  Must be a  hard job. 

[hf101]

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Part 3 of 3

[JackStraw]

Another interesting documentary on Orr, I had never seen this one.

 

[JackStraw]

Part 2:

 

[ScottM]

The videos are a nice addition. Thanks, guys!

 

Btw, I'm going to try to drop another biography today. It's been hard to find time lately.

[jammer2]

@JackStraw  Thanks for that Strawman!!  I had not seen that one either!   Hilarious, when you look at the time period when Orr came up, the civil unrest, the pot movement, the summer of love...and here you had the young man who would rather visit a hospital ward than do anything else!  He was in many ways, the polar opposite of the times he lived in...so shy, so focused on winning....amazing athlete/person!!