HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY 75th BIRTHDAY ROBERT GORDON ORR
- Thread starter Fenway
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bruinsfan1968
Registered User
- May 6, 2019
- 783
- 1,309
Happy Birthday Bobby Orr!
He is definitely the reason I became Bruin fan!
Wish him nothing but the best on this Blessed Day!
He is definitely the reason I became Bruin fan!
Wish him nothing but the best on this Blessed Day!
TP70BruinsCup
Let’s Go Bruins👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Whenever Bobby was on the ice, anything was possible.
Happy birthday Bobby!
It’s also my sister’s birthday. I was always jealous cause she couldn’t care less. She married a guy with the same birthday, then had their first born on the same day.
Happy birthday Bobby!
It’s also my sister’s birthday. I was always jealous cause she couldn’t care less. She married a guy with the same birthday, then had their first born on the same day.
Peter Mansbridge got Bobby comfortable to talk almost 10 years ago and he even talked about how Alan Eagleson betrayed him.
Last edited:
DominicT
Registered User
I am too young to remember him playing for the Bruins, but I grew up knowing that he was the king of the NHL. Almost everyone said he was the greatest ever. Though none of us remembered him, we used to argue and sometimes actually fight over who was going to be Bobby Orr when we played street hockey. He was and still is that much of a legend.
I actually have a Bobby Orr jersey on its way to my house, and I hope it comes today! I also hope they don’t mistakenly send me a Maple Leafs jersey…
So… there are actually a couple of posts about Orr that I want to share. I cut and saved them when the forum went through the so-called upgrade a while back. The first was from a poster named @DannyGallivan. His post about Orr is my favorite hockey-related post I’ve ever read here. This was from a thread that asked if Orr was still considered the best defenseman ever:
“Actually, he was the best player of all time, not just the best defenseman.
1. He was the best - at everything. Some players skated fast, shot hard, etc., but Orr's skill, speed and athletism made him both the best defensive and offensive defenseman of all time. He could also hit, block shots and fight. There were no holes in his game. None.
2. Two time Art Ross winner - as a defenseman! No player before or since has done that. Oh, there's also the Three Harts, Two Conn Smythes and Two Stanley Cups... in ten years. He has six straight seasons of over 100 points (would have been more, but he missed almost all of the next two seasons before forced retirement). We're talking point totals of 120, 139, 117, 101 (in 63 games), 122 and 135. His goal totals during those six years were 33, 37, 37, 29 (in 63 games), 32 and 46. As a defenseman!
When some people (falsely ) suggest that Gretzky is the greatest of all time, I ask what kind of totals Orr would have gotten if he played centre. 200 points? Definitely. 230? Wouldn't put it past him. Then, I ask, what kind of a defenseman do you think Gretzky would have made? That's a laughable thought. Orr simply did everything better than anybody else.
3. Eight consecutive Norris Trophies.
4. His plus/minus in 1970-71 was 124. Soak that in for awhile. PLUS 124. His superstar teammate, Espo, who won the Art Ross that year, had 53 plus points less!
5. Think he was all offense? That same year, Orr was only on the ice for 55 even-strength goals against in 78 games.
6. Orr retired after the 1978-79 season with 270 goals and 645 assists for 915 points in 657 games, an average of 1.39 points per game as a defenceman. That's currently fourth best in history (only three of the greatest forwards of all time have more... Gretzky, Lemieux and Bossy). Orr’s career plus/minus record was plus-597. Again, that’s not a typo. Plus-597!
Gretzky's career plus/minus was far less at a plus-518, despite playing 830 more games than Orr.
7. His knees were so bad by 1976 that he missed almost the entire season. He had trouble getting in and out of cars. He had trouble walking. But he had no problem winning the MVP of the first Canada Cup on one leg.
I can go on, but I think I made more of enough of a case. By the way, Orr wasn't even my favorite player growing up... it was Guy Lafleur. He wasn't even my favorite Bruin... it was Espo. But the evidence to his greatness is overwhelming and hard to comprehend.”
Pretty compelling argument, huh?
The next post I’m going to share is another rescue from the forum reboot. This is actually my favorite post that I have ever written. The topic was ‘who would have had the better career if they hadn’t gotten injured? Orr or Lemieux?’
Here’s my answer (slightly edited):
“Both players have two Stanley Cup championships. Both have two Conn Smythe awards. Pretty even there. Lemieux has six Art Ross awards to Orr's two. However, since Orr is a defenseman, I think the fact he has even one Art Ross on his resume is more impressive since no other defenseman has had one. Has another defenseman even finished number two in scoring? If so, my money would be on Paul Coffey. I digress...
I guess I'm going to make my stand based on one series. That would be the infamous 1979 "Too Many Men on the Ice" series against the Canadiens. I was four years old at the time, so I don't remember it. I had other priorities and it was on past my bedtime.
Anyway, the Bruins battled the mighty dynastic Canadiens to an absolute standstill and it took a colossal Bruins blunder and the greatest goal Guy LaFleur ever scored for Montreal to win the series. As it stands, it is in my opinion the greatest series in NHL history. I despise the result, but for drama, I can't think of a better series ever.
So what happens if a healthy Bobby Orr (still playing for Boston) plays in that series in an alternate timeline?
I have to believe that a healthy Orr would have been the difference in Game 7.
Let’s assume that Coach Cherry still replaces Cheevers with Gilbert after Game Two.
In our universe, Games One; Two; and Five were decided by two; three; and four goals respectively. In the alternate universe, I'll assume that Montreal still wins those games - but with the addition of Bobby Orr, the scores are much closer.
I'll also assume that the Bruins win Games Three, Four, and Six at home just as they did in our timeline. In our universe, Games Three and Four were decided by one goal. Game Six was decided by three goals. The Bruins were gaining momentum.
Which brings us to Game Seven. History as we know it has the Bruins losing 5-4 in overtime.
But with Orr and Park on defense together, once the Bruins built their lead, they would more likely than not add to it, or at least maintain it. But how would Orr do offensively? There really IS no way of knowing. What I did was take Orr's career playoff stats and average them out like he was in a bowling league. In 74 career playoff games, Orr averaged .351 goals per game; .891 assists per game; and 1.243 points per game. So, over this seven game series, lets say he had a line of 3-6-9. I did a little rounding up to make some of the numbers work. I don't think that's a bad line for this series. It puts Orr behind Guy Lafleur's 12 points and ties Jean Ratelle's 9 points for the series. Very good for a defenseman, I think.
I believe that Orr sets up at least one more Boston goal in regulation and the Bruins survive the Montreal onslaught in the third period. The too many men on the ice penalty becomes a footnote as the Bruins hold on for a 5-4 win in regulation and easily dispose of the Rangers in the Finals.
So, what's my point? My point is that Orr earns a signature playoff triumph against a dragon he was never able to slay in our timeline. What is or would be Mario's? This wasn't trouncing the expansion St. Louis Blues in a four game sweep. This was a hockey donnybrook that resulted in a 15 round knockout. Yes, Orr still has his iconic 1970 Cup-clincher, but he never had a series like this one. Only the 2004 ALCS triumph of the Red Sox over the Yankees could compare to the '79 Semi-Final had it gone the Bruins' way. It paves the way for a THIRD Stanley Cup championship for Orr; possibly a third Conn Smythe (however, I think Gilles Gilbert gets it); and makes Orr a hero in a bitterly contested series for the ages. Orr's Bruins even take a nice big bite out of the Montreal dynasty to boot. Even had Mario Lemieux remained healthy, would he EVER have faced anyone as fearsome as the 1979 Canadiens? No. No way in hell.
This one game in this one series changes so much for Bobby Orr. Leaving 1979 aside for a moment - could there have been other Stanley Cup championships? Maybe. More scoring and bigger stats? Absolutely. The whole structure of the NHL changes with a healthy Orr skating for the Boston Bruins.”
Happy birthday, Mr. Orr.
Thank you for everything.
I actually have a Bobby Orr jersey on its way to my house, and I hope it comes today! I also hope they don’t mistakenly send me a Maple Leafs jersey…
So… there are actually a couple of posts about Orr that I want to share. I cut and saved them when the forum went through the so-called upgrade a while back. The first was from a poster named @DannyGallivan. His post about Orr is my favorite hockey-related post I’ve ever read here. This was from a thread that asked if Orr was still considered the best defenseman ever:
“Actually, he was the best player of all time, not just the best defenseman.
1. He was the best - at everything. Some players skated fast, shot hard, etc., but Orr's skill, speed and athletism made him both the best defensive and offensive defenseman of all time. He could also hit, block shots and fight. There were no holes in his game. None.
2. Two time Art Ross winner - as a defenseman! No player before or since has done that. Oh, there's also the Three Harts, Two Conn Smythes and Two Stanley Cups... in ten years. He has six straight seasons of over 100 points (would have been more, but he missed almost all of the next two seasons before forced retirement). We're talking point totals of 120, 139, 117, 101 (in 63 games), 122 and 135. His goal totals during those six years were 33, 37, 37, 29 (in 63 games), 32 and 46. As a defenseman!
When some people (falsely ) suggest that Gretzky is the greatest of all time, I ask what kind of totals Orr would have gotten if he played centre. 200 points? Definitely. 230? Wouldn't put it past him. Then, I ask, what kind of a defenseman do you think Gretzky would have made? That's a laughable thought. Orr simply did everything better than anybody else.
3. Eight consecutive Norris Trophies.
4. His plus/minus in 1970-71 was 124. Soak that in for awhile. PLUS 124. His superstar teammate, Espo, who won the Art Ross that year, had 53 plus points less!
5. Think he was all offense? That same year, Orr was only on the ice for 55 even-strength goals against in 78 games.
6. Orr retired after the 1978-79 season with 270 goals and 645 assists for 915 points in 657 games, an average of 1.39 points per game as a defenceman. That's currently fourth best in history (only three of the greatest forwards of all time have more... Gretzky, Lemieux and Bossy). Orr’s career plus/minus record was plus-597. Again, that’s not a typo. Plus-597!
Gretzky's career plus/minus was far less at a plus-518, despite playing 830 more games than Orr.
7. His knees were so bad by 1976 that he missed almost the entire season. He had trouble getting in and out of cars. He had trouble walking. But he had no problem winning the MVP of the first Canada Cup on one leg.
I can go on, but I think I made more of enough of a case. By the way, Orr wasn't even my favorite player growing up... it was Guy Lafleur. He wasn't even my favorite Bruin... it was Espo. But the evidence to his greatness is overwhelming and hard to comprehend.”
Pretty compelling argument, huh?
The next post I’m going to share is another rescue from the forum reboot. This is actually my favorite post that I have ever written. The topic was ‘who would have had the better career if they hadn’t gotten injured? Orr or Lemieux?’
Here’s my answer (slightly edited):
“Both players have two Stanley Cup championships. Both have two Conn Smythe awards. Pretty even there. Lemieux has six Art Ross awards to Orr's two. However, since Orr is a defenseman, I think the fact he has even one Art Ross on his resume is more impressive since no other defenseman has had one. Has another defenseman even finished number two in scoring? If so, my money would be on Paul Coffey. I digress...
I guess I'm going to make my stand based on one series. That would be the infamous 1979 "Too Many Men on the Ice" series against the Canadiens. I was four years old at the time, so I don't remember it. I had other priorities and it was on past my bedtime.
Anyway, the Bruins battled the mighty dynastic Canadiens to an absolute standstill and it took a colossal Bruins blunder and the greatest goal Guy LaFleur ever scored for Montreal to win the series. As it stands, it is in my opinion the greatest series in NHL history. I despise the result, but for drama, I can't think of a better series ever.
So what happens if a healthy Bobby Orr (still playing for Boston) plays in that series in an alternate timeline?
I have to believe that a healthy Orr would have been the difference in Game 7.
Let’s assume that Coach Cherry still replaces Cheevers with Gilbert after Game Two.
In our universe, Games One; Two; and Five were decided by two; three; and four goals respectively. In the alternate universe, I'll assume that Montreal still wins those games - but with the addition of Bobby Orr, the scores are much closer.
I'll also assume that the Bruins win Games Three, Four, and Six at home just as they did in our timeline. In our universe, Games Three and Four were decided by one goal. Game Six was decided by three goals. The Bruins were gaining momentum.
Which brings us to Game Seven. History as we know it has the Bruins losing 5-4 in overtime.
But with Orr and Park on defense together, once the Bruins built their lead, they would more likely than not add to it, or at least maintain it. But how would Orr do offensively? There really IS no way of knowing. What I did was take Orr's career playoff stats and average them out like he was in a bowling league. In 74 career playoff games, Orr averaged .351 goals per game; .891 assists per game; and 1.243 points per game. So, over this seven game series, lets say he had a line of 3-6-9. I did a little rounding up to make some of the numbers work. I don't think that's a bad line for this series. It puts Orr behind Guy Lafleur's 12 points and ties Jean Ratelle's 9 points for the series. Very good for a defenseman, I think.
I believe that Orr sets up at least one more Boston goal in regulation and the Bruins survive the Montreal onslaught in the third period. The too many men on the ice penalty becomes a footnote as the Bruins hold on for a 5-4 win in regulation and easily dispose of the Rangers in the Finals.
So, what's my point? My point is that Orr earns a signature playoff triumph against a dragon he was never able to slay in our timeline. What is or would be Mario's? This wasn't trouncing the expansion St. Louis Blues in a four game sweep. This was a hockey donnybrook that resulted in a 15 round knockout. Yes, Orr still has his iconic 1970 Cup-clincher, but he never had a series like this one. Only the 2004 ALCS triumph of the Red Sox over the Yankees could compare to the '79 Semi-Final had it gone the Bruins' way. It paves the way for a THIRD Stanley Cup championship for Orr; possibly a third Conn Smythe (however, I think Gilles Gilbert gets it); and makes Orr a hero in a bitterly contested series for the ages. Orr's Bruins even take a nice big bite out of the Montreal dynasty to boot. Even had Mario Lemieux remained healthy, would he EVER have faced anyone as fearsome as the 1979 Canadiens? No. No way in hell.
This one game in this one series changes so much for Bobby Orr. Leaving 1979 aside for a moment - could there have been other Stanley Cup championships? Maybe. More scoring and bigger stats? Absolutely. The whole structure of the NHL changes with a healthy Orr skating for the Boston Bruins.”
Happy birthday, Mr. Orr.
Thank you for everything.
Ddawg
Registered User
Still recall early B's memories, sitting in front of the 12" black and white TV. Orr to Bucyk, back to Orr, rifle shot... score number 4 Bobby Orr. Happy Birthday Bobby.
TCB
Registered User
TCB
Registered User
TCB
Registered User
Schmidt: Orr is the best ever
“So far, the good Lord has kept me on this earth for 92 years, which I am very pleased about," Schmidt said. "I have often said this: As far as Bobby Orr is concerned, if someone better than he comes along, I hope the good Lord keeps me on this earth to see him. So far, I haven’t met that man. He’s the best -- ever. He always will be as long as I’m on this earth.”
bruinsfan1968
Registered User
- May 6, 2019
- 783
- 1,309
I really wish I could wear this to a Bruin game in Boston before this season is over!
Happy Birthday Bobby!
My dad's best friend had a framed photo of the famous goal in his dining room. I always thought it was awesome and his wife was completely ok with it.
My memories are of him post playing. The stature, banner captain and alumni events. Please keep telling your memories of Bobby playing. For someone who relies on them, the stories my dad would tell and videos, it helps to understand how special he was and still is to this organization and hockey.
My dad's best friend had a framed photo of the famous goal in his dining room. I always thought it was awesome and his wife was completely ok with it.
My memories are of him post playing. The stature, banner captain and alumni events. Please keep telling your memories of Bobby playing. For someone who relies on them, the stories my dad would tell and videos, it helps to understand how special he was and still is to this organization and hockey.
Terrier
Registered User
Happy 75th birthday #4!!!! My closest encounter with Bobby was in 1984 when he attended a varsity practice at St. Mark's in Southborough. I was on the third team(for four years, this is St. Mark's after all), taking my skates off in the trailer after our practice, and I look up and there he was on the other end, lacing them up.
Lord Ahriman
Registered User
- Oct 21, 2009
- 6,615
- 1,793
I never got to see him play very often. Bobby was my generations McDavid.
happy birthday.
happy birthday.
lextune
I'm too old for this.
Happy birthday to number 4, Bobby Orr!
Bobby was great beyond what numbers can explain, but his numbers are bonkers.
He was the greatest defenseman of all time, and simultaneously is 5th all time in points per game.
The next Dman to appear on the list (Paul Coffey) is 34th, then Potvin at 66th.
Bobby was great beyond what numbers can explain, but his numbers are bonkers.
He was the greatest defenseman of all time, and simultaneously is 5th all time in points per game.
The next Dman to appear on the list (Paul Coffey) is 34th, then Potvin at 66th.
Attachments
mjhfb
Easier from up here
I knew he was different than other superstars when I saw him dive face first without a helmet to block a shot in the crease. Can't imagine anyone of the top players but Howe doing that. Happy Birthday.
What can you say?
I won't even try.
If not the greatest ever, certainly in the coversation.
And I don't count essentially one dimensional, flashy offensive types like Wayne, Mario, or Crosby.
You can look up the awards and accolades. But that's not half the story.
Robert Gordon Orr was a *complete player,* three zones, 200 ft.
He could do it all. And he did.
Though there were antecedents {Eddie Shore, Doug Harvey), Bobby completely changed the nature and potential of the defensive position.
No one -- no one -- before nor since, controlled the game the way Orr did. No one ever will.
He changed hockey forever, not least growing the game in the United States.
Some hockey historians assert that Orr's entry into the NHL in 1966 played a major role in "the Great Expansion" a year later.
How many rinks were built in MA and around America because of his impact?
I could go on, but I yield the stage. Happy birthday, Bobby.
Pick up at 34:10,
Being old has its benefits. I was around to watch him play.
Happy Birthday Bobby!
Happy Birthday Bobby!
Happy Birthday #4. 
I was not the Bruins/hockey fan when he was playing that I am now, so I don't have many memories of watching him play on tv. I do remember my mom yelling when he scored the GWG against the Blues in the 1970 Cup Final. I also remember the shock, grief & yes anger (not directed at Bobby but at the Bruins) of callers to the "Calling All Sports" radio show when it was announced that Bobby was going to Chicago. Nobody knew then of Alan Eagleson's treacherous role in making that happen. It was like Bobby had died unexpectedly, people were really grieving over his departure. A real black day for Bruins fans to be sure.
Bobby Orr revolutionized the game of hockey. He invented the position of offensive defensemen. Before him you very rarely saw a defenseman involved in 5x5 offensive situations. Orr changed all that with his skating, puckhandling & hockey IQ. He was as much of a threat to score as any top line forward or to get the puck to another Bruin for a goal. And he did it while playing stellar defense as those 8 Norris Trophies attest.
Bobby Orr is the greatest player who ever played the game.
I was not the Bruins/hockey fan when he was playing that I am now, so I don't have many memories of watching him play on tv. I do remember my mom yelling when he scored the GWG against the Blues in the 1970 Cup Final. I also remember the shock, grief & yes anger (not directed at Bobby but at the Bruins) of callers to the "Calling All Sports" radio show when it was announced that Bobby was going to Chicago. Nobody knew then of Alan Eagleson's treacherous role in making that happen. It was like Bobby had died unexpectedly, people were really grieving over his departure. A real black day for Bruins fans to be sure.
Bobby Orr revolutionized the game of hockey. He invented the position of offensive defensemen. Before him you very rarely saw a defenseman involved in 5x5 offensive situations. Orr changed all that with his skating, puckhandling & hockey IQ. He was as much of a threat to score as any top line forward or to get the puck to another Bruin for a goal. And he did it while playing stellar defense as those 8 Norris Trophies attest.
Bobby Orr is the greatest player who ever played the game.
Happy birthday to the one and only Bobby Orr, the GOAT. Imagine if he had played 5 or more years there wouldn't even be a conversation as to who was the greatest. It's a testament to his greatness that a career so short in years is still considered by many to be the GOAT.
Fenian24
Registered User
- Jun 14, 2010
- 10,375
- 13,498
Should at minimum be a state holiday.
Happy Birthday to the greatest.
Happy Birthday to the greatest.
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