My Bobby Orr "Stuff"

[TUM301]

Awesome collection of the greatest of all time. Being a New England guy and a Boston sports fan for 50+ years, feel pretty comfortable in saying Orr was the most beloved Boston athlete ever. Ice arenas were built all over N England as a direct result of Orr and the "Big Bad Bruins". Bird, Big Papi and now Tom Brady have all come and electrified the fans and rekindled and increased new fan interest, but they`ll never be another Bobby Orr. Back in the day, "old man alert', you had to actually work to follow the team, late night west coast radio games, channel 38 etc etc as opposed to I phones/red zone channel and 24 hour network T V. Bright candles burn quicker and Bobby was THE brightest. As much as sports titan he always remained humble, accessible and ever the gentleman. To add on to the Eagleson comment, I think I read were Derrick Sanderson, wow the Turk, once asked Bobby why he didn`t take the B`s offer for a % of the team. Orr replied "he(Eagleson) never told me about it".

[irv]

Originally Posted by TUM301

Awesome collection of the greatest of all time. Being a New England guy and a Boston sports fan for 50+ years, feel pretty comfortable in saying Orr was the most beloved Boston athlete ever. Ice arenas were built all over N England as a direct result of Orr and the "Big Bad Bruins". Bird, Big Papi and now Tom Brady have all come and electrified the fans and rekindled and increased new fan interest, but they`ll never be another Bobby Orr. Back in the day, "old man alert', you had to actually work to follow the team, late night west coast radio games, channel 38 etc etc as opposed to I phones/red zone channel and 24 hour network T V. Bright candles burn quicker and Bobby was THE brightest. As much as sports titan he always remained humble, accessible and ever the gentleman. To add on to the Eagleson comment, I think I read were Derrick Sanderson, wow the Turk, once asked Bobby why he didn`t take the B`s offer for a % of the team. Orr replied "he(Eagleson) never told me about it".

I know Eagleson ripped off/cheated Orr out of millions but does anyone know if Bobby Orr has ever recovered financially, somewhat, from all that?

I know he likely isn't hurting for money, at least I hope not, but does anyone know if he has recovered from all that and can now call himself a millionaire?

Edit: Found my answer, which I guess I should have just done myself before asking.
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/prof...on-orr-901.php

[hcv123]

Awesome collection. Sad story. So where's the 1971 bazooka?

[jb217676]

Originally Posted by hcv123

Awesome collection. Sad story. So where's the 1971 bazooka?

It's on the list, need to come into some SERIOUS cash for one of those!

[irv]

Originally Posted by jb217676

It's on the list, need to come into some SERIOUS cash for one of those!

I'm sure Larry would sell you his, Jeff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsSuQ7wpu9Y

[samosa4u]

Originally Posted by irv

I'm sure Larry would sell you his, Jeff.

He sold it.

[jb217676]

Here's another addition to my Orr collection. It's a 1969-70 Team Issued Photo Signed by Bobby Orr in vintage ball-point pen.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by jb217676

It's on the list, need to come into some SERIOUS cash for one of those!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-Bazook...kAAOSw1LRZrdR4

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by TUM301

Awesome collection of the greatest of all time. Being a New England guy and a Boston sports fan for 50+ years, feel pretty comfortable in saying Orr was the most beloved Boston athlete ever. Ice arenas were built all over N England as a direct result of Orr and the "Big Bad Bruins". Bird, Big Papi and now Tom Brady have all come and electrified the fans and rekindled and increased new fan interest, but they`ll never be another Bobby Orr. Back in the day, "old man alert', you had to actually work to follow the team, late night west coast radio games, channel 38 etc etc as opposed to I phones/red zone channel and 24 hour network T V. Bright candles burn quicker and Bobby was THE brightest. As much as sports titan he always remained humble, accessible and ever the gentleman. To add on to the Eagleson comment, I think I read were Derrick Sanderson, wow the Turk, once asked Bobby why he didn`t take the B`s offer for a % of the team. Orr replied "he(Eagleson) never told me about it".

I think Papi or Bird would give him a run for his money. A lot of people don't follow hockey even in Boston.

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I think Papi or Bird would give him a run for his money. A lot of people don't follow hockey even in Boston.

To be fair though... there's also people in Boston that don't follow or care about basketball.

A Boston Globe poll of New Englanders in 1975 ranked Orr as "The greatest athlete in Boston history", and granted, while this did occur at the height of his career, he still topped all-time Beantown legends Williams, Russell, Yaz, Cousy and others.
While it's difficult to compare different eras, I'd say his popularity all-time definitely surpasses Bird and Ortiz.

[Exhibitman]

Since I don't like to pay up for Orr cards, I pick up his early stuff in lower grades. This was ten bucks at the National:



The scanner makes it look worse than it is.

[AGuinness]

Originally Posted by Huysmans

To be fair though... there's also people in Boston that don't follow or care about basketball.

A Boston Globe poll of New Englanders in 1975 ranked Orr as "The greatest athlete in Boston history", and granted, while this did occur at the height of his career, he still topped all-time Beantown legends Williams, Russell, Yaz, Cousy and others.
While it's difficult to compare different eras, I'd say his popularity all-time definitely surpasses Bird and Ortiz.

I'm a huge Orr fan, but I'd find it hard to believe that his popularity would rival Ortiz at this point - after the WS championships, his final season and especially his speech after the marathon bombings, dropping the f-bomb and getting away with it and all.

And that's not to mention another athlete whose popularity might surpass Orr's, Tom Brady... From my viewpoint, Orr would come after those two.

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by AGuinness

I'm a huge Orr fan, but I'd find it hard to believe that his popularity would rival Ortiz at this point - after the WS championships, his final season and especially his speech after the marathon bombings, dropping the f-bomb and getting away with it and all.

And that's not to mention another athlete whose popularity might surpass Orr's, Tom Brady... From my viewpoint, Orr would come after those two.

The only problem with this thinking is the fact that Ortiz wouldn't even be the most famous Boston BASEBALL player... With that honour completely owned by Williams. As previously mentioned, the Boston Globe poll found Orr to be even more popular than Williams. And while both Ortiz and Brady are arguably more popular now due to their contemporary careers... as time passes, their stars will fade somewhat. On the other hand, Orr's legacy is completely cemented in Beantown for generations to come.

[AGuinness]

Originally Posted by Huysmans

The only problem with this thinking is the fact that Ortiz wouldn't even be the most famous Boston BASEBALL player... With that honour completely owned by Williams. As previously mentioned, the Boston Globe poll found Orr to be even more popular than Williams. And while both Ortiz and Brady are arguably more popular now due to their contemporary careers... as time passes, their stars will fade somewhat. On the other hand, Orr's legacy is completely cemented in Beantown for generations to come.

I don't think there's a problem at all, most famous or most popular, I'd be willing to bet that David Ortiz tops Ted Williams for Boston baseball players in a hypothetical poll conducted today. That isn't to say that Ortiz was a better baseball player, just that people would rank Ortiz higher in popularity or fame.

And I don't get why the careers of Brady and Ortiz, one which recently ended and the other which is still going, would fade somewhat while Orr's is completely cemented. Both careers of Brady and Ortiz are hardened more than cement, they've been diamonded (if that's a word). One is considered a candidate for GOAT QB who has more rings than any other player, the other broke the silly "Curse of the Bambino," while serving as the face of Boston's more popular franchise.

No doubt the hockey fanatics in Boston adore Orr, as do I. But the Sox have historically been more popular, with the Patriots currently running in lead as the most popular Boston sports team in recent years (here's a recent poll to support that: http://www.salemnews.com/who-is-your...fd93802d4.html). Combine the popularity of the Sox with Ortiz's role on the team, his media-friendly personality, the era that he played in (24-hour news cycle), the Boston Marathon speech and recency bias (Orr last took the ice for the Bruins more than 40 years ago and the poll listing him above Williams was taken around that time), I don't think it would be even close today between Ortiz and Orr.

The great part is that there is a debate, as these players are all incredible Boston icons and also icons in their respective sports.

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by AGuinness

I don't think there's a problem at all, most famous or most popular, I'd be willing to bet that David Ortiz tops Ted Williams for Boston baseball players in a hypothetical poll conducted today. That isn't to say that Ortiz was a better baseball player, just that people would rank Ortiz higher in popularity or fame.

And I don't get why the careers of Brady and Ortiz, one which recently ended and the other which is still going, would fade somewhat while Orr's is completely cemented. Both careers of Brady and Ortiz are hardened more than cement, they've been diamonded (if that's a word). One is considered a candidate for GOAT QB who has more rings than any other player, the other broke the silly "Curse of the Bambino," while serving as the face of Boston's more popular franchise.

No doubt the hockey fanatics in Boston adore Orr, as do I. But the Sox have historically been more popular, with the Patriots currently running in lead as the most popular Boston sports team in recent years (here's a recent poll to support that: http://www.salemnews.com/who-is-your...fd93802d4.html). Combine the popularity of the Sox with Ortiz's role on the team, his media-friendly personality, the era that he played in (24-hour news cycle), the Boston Marathon speech and recency bias (Orr last took the ice for the Bruins more than 40 years ago and the poll listing him above Williams was taken around that time), I don't think it would be even close today between Ortiz and Orr.

The great part is that there is a debate, as these players are all incredible Boston icons and also icons in their respective sports.

With all due respect... I find it beyond improbable that Ortiz would be more popular in Boston than Ted Williams... ever, and under ANY circumstance.
You do make good points about Brady though...

Except the "GOAT" part, which is more a slight on that corny, completely overused and abused acronym than it is regarding Brady's accomplishments or skill level.

I still believe Orr would be the most popular Beantown athlete though...