Bobby Orr’s 74-75 Season Passes the Test of Time

The articles caught my interest, and got me thinking about the most impressive individual I have witnessed over the course of a season.

Which single-season has stuck in my craw as the best?

Oscar Robertson invented the triple-double, but I wasn’t even born. Same goes for Wilt, the Babe, and Jim Brown. MJ had the greatest career, but I never found myself completely captured by one of his seasons. Gretzky amassed gaudy numbers. That I cannot argue with. In all deference to Brady, he may be having the greatest season ever and has probably ascended to the top of the all-time quarterback heap, but his work needs to exist for a decade or two to prove its worth.

Growing up the morning newspaper was my conduit to the sports world. Scanning the box scores and statistics over a bowl of Rice Krispies was my morning ritual. We had four local television stations from which to choose, but dad had installed a rotary antenna on the roof and from time-to-time the number of stations would increase as did the prospect of catching a hockey broadcast. A clear night outside would increase the possibility of such transmission, and dad would allow me to stay up later. Through the usually snowy appearance I would gaze at the screen in delight. If by chance the Boston Bruins played, it was like Christmas Day as we got a chance to see Bobby Orr.

The 1974-75 season remains etched in my craw.

NBC carried weekly broadcasts. Tim Ryan had the call.

Between periods Peter Puck gave us lessons of the game.

On the ice Bobby Orr dominated. He weaved in and out of opposing players with the puck dangling from his stick.

I was too young to clearly recall his 69-70 or 71-72 seasons. Both of those years Orr led the Bruins to Cup winning the Hart, Conn Smythe, and Norris Trophies.

In 74-75 Orr won the Art Ross trophy as league’s leading scorer for the second time. Orr scored a record 46 goals added 89 assists for 135 points. He also won his eighth and final Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman.

Orr figured in 13 percent of the Bruins’ 345 team goals that year, and he also led the league with a +80 plus/minus rating.

Orr’s records for a defenseman would be topped a decade later by Edmonton’s Paul Coffey with 48 goals and 90 assists. Coffey too won the Norris that year as he took part in 11 percent of the Oilers’ goals that season.

But Bobby Orr’s 74-75 season resonates for me. Bobby Orr, number four, coast-to-coast, man with the most, go Bobby go!

What season passes the test of time for you?