Dave Keon 1961-62 Parkhurst #5

Dave Keon was the highlight of the 1961-62 Parkhurst hockey card set and, really, the highlight of the 1960-61 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL season. Fresh off a stellar junior career with Toronto St. Michael’s, Keon was raring to go, jumping straight into a starting role in the National Hockey League.

Dave Keon – 1961-62 Parkhurst #5

Number 5 in the 1961-62 Parkhurst set is the Dave Keon rookie card. The card is easily the highest valued rookie card in the set and equal to Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings as the highest overall card in the 51 card collection. Keon’s first ever appearance on cardboard is valued at over 16 times that of a common card.

The back of the card celebrates Keon’s 1960-61 rookie season. Playing the full 70 game regular season schedule for Toronto, Keon scored 20 goals and assisted on 25 for 45 points. For his efforts, Dave was awarded the Calder Trophy as the top rookie in the National Hockey League.

Interestingly, Keon sat just six minutes in the penalty box but was not awarded the Lady Byng Trophy as the NHL’s most gentlemanly. That accolade went to Dave’s Toronto teammate, Red Kelly. Yes, it’s not strictly an award for the least PIM but Kelly sat 12 minutes while playing in just 64 games. Keon got his retribution, winning consecutive Lady Byng Trophies in 1961-62 and 1962-63.

Dave Keon – NHL

Keon played in the NHL from 1960-61 to 1974-75, all with the Toronto Maple Leafs, before jumping to the World Hockey Association. After the WHA ceased to exist after the 1978-79 season, Dave returned to the NHL but this time with the Hartford Whalers. He spent three years with the NHL Whalers before retiring from the game.

Over his NHL career, Keon played in 1,296 regular season games, scoring 396 goals and assisting on 590 for 986 points. Dave still ranks 53^rd all-time for most NHL regular season games played. In the playoffs, he played an additional 93 games, scoring 32 and assisting on 36 for 68 points.

A four time Stanley Cup champion, Keon enjoyed early success with the Maple Leafs winning three consecutive championships between 1961-62 and 1963-64. His fourth Cup came in 1966-67 when the Maple Leafs won their last ever championship. Dave was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Over 12 games in the playoffs that year, Keon scored three and assisted on five for eight points.

Dave served as team captain with the Maple Leafs from 1969-70 until the end of the 1974-75 season. In his final year in the NHL, 1981-82, Keon was captain of the Hartford Whalers. In 1986, Dave Keon was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

Dave Keon – WHA

Between 1975-76 and 1978-79, Keon played in 301 regular season games in the World Hockey Association. He scored 102 and assisted on 189 for 291 points. Dave played in an additional 36 playoff games, adding 36 points.

During his WHA career, Keon played for the Minnesota Fighting Saints, Indianapolis Racers and New England Whalers. However, his greatest success came with the Whalers. The team reached the Avco World Trophy finals in 1977-78 before being swept in four by the Winnipeg Jets.