7 EPIC HAIR CARDS
The coifs of the 1960s were typified by the George Armstrong or Terry Sawchuk brush cut – “the sort of haircut you could set your watch by,” as Abe Simpson once said. But the boys were feeling the hippie vibes as the ‘70s rolled on and started to let their freak flags fly.
1974-75 O-Pee-Chee WHA #37 Mike Antonovich
Strap on a bib and dig into this vicious salad. This was the ultimate intersection of Haight-Ashbury and ‘70s hockey culture, with the luscious locks, the full forehead drape and that let-it-all-hang-out mustache. Antonovich, currently a scout for the Blue Jackets, has expressed embarrassment over the photo, but we can’t imagine why. Everyone was cool in the ‘70s but no one was cooler than he was.
1975-76 Topps #158 Dave Kryskow
Back in Roman times, he could have rocked a mean Julius Caesar, but he just didn’t have the follicular goods to compete in the ‘70s. Oh, he gave it a shot, what with his commitment to the shag carpeting on the sides, but that rapidly receding hairline prevented him from presenting a unified look. That Greg Brady ‘stache isn’t helping much, either.
1973-74 O-Pee-Chee #183 Derek Sanderson
You know how many kids in New England were given the name Derek just because their parents hoped they’d end up being even 1/10th as cool as the Bruins center? Just take a moment to luxuriate in the overt manliness of this beauty. He looks like he should be playing bass in Blue Oyster Cult while dating everyone in The Runaways, all thanks to that nasty, untamed salad. We’ve never seen his like since.
1976-77 O-Pee-Chee #87 Ernie Hicke
Natural? A perm? Who cares! When you’re rocking the sort of curls that would make Montreal’s soulful pop sensation Gino Vanelli weep with envy, the ladies didn’t ask how you got them. They just wanted to run their fingers through them. Hey, and bonus points for that necklace. Is it corral? Is it candy? Doesn’t matter. It’s delicious either way.
1975-76 Topps #273 Larry Giroux
Larry earned just this one card, but he made it count. The Red Wings blueliner will forever be remembered for this mountainous mass of curls that made any consideration of a helmet redundant. I mean, just look at that majestic mound of self-grown protection. Any barber foolish enough to try to tame it would have to clear his schedule for the day and break out the electric hedge trimmers.
1976-77 O-Pee-Chee #152 Al Smith
The cartoon on the back of this card reveals that Al was known for his terrific sense of humor, so maybe he committed to this epic combover as a season-long gag to amuse his teammates. It’s more comforting to believe that than to consider the alternative – that he simply didn’t realize that moving hair successfully grown on one side of the head over to cover a barren patch is not a serious option.
1972-73 O-Pee-Chee #297 Bobby Sheehan
This greasy flop was the look that inspired Lynyrd Skynyrd to ditch their clean-cut image and get down and dirty. Just an absolute mop in the back, with a hint of, “Yes sir, I’ll have her home by 10” in the front. This photo was so nice they also used it on his 1973-74 Quaker Oats card. Who can blame them? If there’s any justice they’ll use it again for his obit.