By Paul Gotham
In light of Tom Brady’s other-worldly accomplishments over the previous four months our friends over at ESPN.com ran a series on the greatest individual seasons in the history of sport.
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. [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYq2vGzeLrU]
Between periods Peter Puck gave us lessons of the game. [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnCO33mBUpA&feature=related]
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% 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% 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?
Casey,
Some of your Kin had a big game yesterday, It is unbelievable how they have grown, I remember them in diapers,
Will you be at the Diamond Dinner?
We need some coverage.
Redding signed yesterday to a 1 year 1 cool Million dollar contract. what is that week to week.? Probably more than I make
THE THRILLA
where is Casey? Where is casey? Where are you? Where are you?
THE THRILLA
Orr was the greatest – and forget about coffey’s 85-86 season; he was playing on the second-highest-scoring team of all-time and had gretzky feeding him all night.
Bobby Orr put up those numbers on one leg playing on a declining team
#4 = #1
bk,
Absolutely! Orr’s effect on the game is vastly overlooked. He entered a 6-team league and retired the year before the WHA teams joined to make it a 22 team league. Orr was THE MAN during those years. The league was brokered on his back and he performed.
Coffey and Gretzky accumulated statistical feats of mythic proportions. Orr is a legend.
Thanks for stopping by.
Casey