Red Kelly 1961-62 Parkhurst #9

In 1960-61, Red Kelly was in his first full season with the Toronto Maple Leafs and he recorded the highest offensive numbers of his NHL career. The player destined to be a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame was settling in nicely with the Maple Leafs after he came over from the Detroit Red Wings midseason the year before.

1961-62 Parkhurst #9

The number 9 card belonging to Leonard ‘Red’ Kelly is valued at about 60% above a common card. By this time in his career, more than a decade had passed since his 1951-52 Parkhurst rookie card came on the market.

The back of the 1961-62 Parkhurst hockey card celebrates the 1960-61 season. For Red Kelly, it was a hell of a season to celebrate. The Maple Leafs were not overly successful but Kelly certainly was in his first full year with the club.

Over 64 regular season games, Red scored 20 goals and assisted on 50 for 70 points while sitting just 12 minutes in the penalty box. It was the best offensive season of Kelly’s NHL career. Kelly led Toronto in assists and finished second in points behind Frank Mahovlich. In the entire NHL, Red placed second for assists, eight behind league leader Jean Beliveau of the Montreal Canadiens. His 70 points tied him for sixth with Norm Ullman of the Detroit Red Wings.

Red’s 12 penalty minutes were a contributing factor in him winning the Lady Byng Trophy. For Kelly, it was fourth of four times he won the award during his National Hockey League career.

Red Kelly – Playing Career

After playing junior with Toronto St. Michael’s and winning a Memorial Cup championship in 1947, Kelly jumped directly to the NHL and played 1,316 regular season games between 1947-48 and 1966-67. His entire career was spent with the Red Wings and Maple Leafs. Red scored 281 goals and assisted on 542 for 823 points over a career that was split between playing defense and centre.

In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Kelly played an amazing 164 games, adding 92 points. He was a member of eight Stanley Cup champions, four with Detroit and four with Toronto. The eight Cups are the most for any player in NHL history that did not play for the Montreal Canadiens.

Kelly is one of just four players in NHL history to win the Lady Byng Trophy four or more times. He won the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman in 1953-54 with the Red Wings. Red Kelly was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969, along with Sid Abel, Bryan Hextall and Roy Worters. 

Red Kelly – Coach

Directly following his National Hockey League playing career, Kelly moved behind the bench. He was the first ever head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, joining the club in their inaugural 1967-68 season and remaining through the 1968-69 season.

After L.A., Kelly found himself in Pittsburgh and was head coach of the Penguins from 1970-71 until being replaced midway through the 1972-73 season. He returned to Toronto a few years later and was head coach from 1974-75 to 1976-77.