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BIOGRAPHY
Doug and Arva Orr already had two children, Pat and Ron, and were now expecting a third. On March 20th, 1948 he arrived. They named him after his grandfather who was a professional soccer player in Ireland before coming to Canada. His name was Robert Gordon Orr.
His love for hockey started when he was 4 years old. A friend of his fathers bought Bobby his first pair of skates, they were to large for him but his father stuffed the toes with paper and he was off. It wasn't long before his ankles were stronger and Bobby was on the ice all the time. Bobby started playing shinny with boys in the neighberhood. He learned a lot about dodging, passing and controlling the puck in those games.
While Bobby was in kindergarten, he began playing in the Parry Sound Minor Squirt Hockey League. By the time Bobby was 9 he had won the MVP in the Pee-Wee Division. He was smaller than the other boys but he had heart. He knew that to play with the older boys he would have to make his body stronger. In the winter he would skate after school every day until dark. He worked on speed skating, stick handling, and turning. It was during these sessions that he began to develop the fast spin for which he became famous.
Bucko McDonald, an all-star NHL defenseman in the 1940s, coached Bobby in PeeWee and Bantam Hockey. Bucko was the one who had Bobby play defense. When Doug questioned Bucko about the move, Bucko responded, Bobby was born to play defense. In 1960 the legend of Bobby Orr began had begun. The Parry Sound Bantam All-Stars were playing in a tournament and scouts from all N.H.L. teams were on hand. Although they were not there to watch Bobby Orr, the Bruins Management were in awe as Bobby played in all but 2 minutes of the game, he had a penalty. Parry Sound won the Championship 2-1. It was at that time the bruins management new they had to have this kids wearing a Bruins jersey.
Bobby Orr started playing with the Oshawa Generals at the tender age of 14. The other players in the league were much older but Bobby was an all-star in the making. In his first year with the Generals Bobby played 34 games and finished with 6 goals and 15 assists for 21 points. He would have 4 all-star seasons with the Generals before beginning his N.H.L. career with the Bruins.
Bobby Orr was the first player to hire a lawyer, Alan Eagleson (the thief), to negotiate a contract. Bobby recieved $50,000 for two years, plus a $25,000 signing bonus. By todays standards it doesn't seem like much but it set the scales for todays high priced earnings. Bobby began his career with #27 but changed it to the legendary #4 a short time later. In his first season in the N.H.L. he won the Calder Trophy as top rookie. The following season he won the Norris Trophy which would not relinquish for the next 8 years.
Bobby's first NHL game was against the Detroit Red Wings and Mr. Gordie Howe. Bobby hit him on the back of the neck with his stick. Later in the game Mr. Howe caught Bobby with his head down and leveled him to the ice. Gordie wanted the kid to know that he wasn't finished yet. Bobby's teammates came to his rescue but the future hockey GOD replied with an I deserved that. His first goal came against Gump Worsley and the Montreal Canadians. The roar of the crowd was deafening.
Over the next 13 years Bobby Orr set almost every imaginable record for defenseman. He changed the game of hockey, forever. One astonishing feat of Bobby's his his +/- ratio. Bobby finished his career with a +/- ratio of 597. His best season was 1970-71 when he finished with an NHL record of 124. Just so you know Wayne Gretzky's best +/- season was 98. In his career Bobby never had a negative +/- season.
Just a few facts for you to consider. Bobby lead the league in scoring twice. Take a guess how many other defenceman have recorded such a feat. He won the Norris trophy for 8 consecutive seasons. He was on the first all-star team from 1968-1975. He was the Conn Smythe trophy winner in both the 70 and 72 finals. He amassed so much in such a short and brilliant career.
In 1976 Bobby played for Team Canada in the Canada Cup. Bobby and Dennis Potvin lead the team in scoring. Bobby was such a dominating force he was name the MVP of the tournament.
He was such a dominating force that if you were going to stop the Bruins, you had to stop Bobby Orr. Bobby doesn't feel other player tried to injure him purposely, but I beg to differ. After several knee operations Bobby took a year off to
rest his badly damaged knees. But to no avail he retired after the following season.
He was the most gracefull player I have ever seen play the game. He rarely celebrated after scoring. He did not want to embarass the other players. He spent some of his spare time at the hospital visiting sick children and didn't tell anyone. It wasn't until Don Cherry went in one day and one of the nurses said Bobby was there 2-3 times a week. There is a story of a gentleman leaving a Bruins game whose car was stuck in the snow. A kind stranger helped push his car out of the snow. That stranger was Bobby Orr.
On January 9, 1979 the Boston Bruins held, "Bobby Orr Night". When Bobby was finally introduced, the Garden crowd stood and cheered for eleven minutes and would not let Mr. Orr speak. Finally the noise subsided and the #4 was raised to the rafters while Bobby and his family looked on. In 1979 the Hockey Hall of Fame elected Robert Gordon Orr to be enshrined into it's hallowed halls. Bobby was, and still is, the youngest player ever to be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was 31 years old.
Not only was Bobby a great hockey player he was, and is a great person. He does many wonderful things today to help charities as much as he can. From golf tournaments to charity dinners Bobby always does his best to help others less fortunate. I would like to say thanks to Bobby Orr for giving his all to hockey. He was an inspiration to many players. He is no longer playing the game he loved so much, but he will never be forgotten.
If you are searching for Bobby Orr memorabilia be sure to visit my web site by clicking on the image above. If you have Bobby Orr memorabilia you wish to sell please send me an e-mail. Thanks.
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