1951 Parkhurst Maurice 'Rocket' Richard ROOKIE #4 PSA 7.5 NRMT+

Businessman George Kennedy worked for Wrigley Gum in Canada early in his career. He later teamed up with the ex-president of Wrigley to start a gum company. Ironically, they sold gum to Bowman. Kennedy eventually decided to start his own gum company, Parkhurst. Parkhurst specialized in designing, printing, and distributing primarily hockey cards beginning in the 1950s. In 1951, Parkhurst sold the cards, “Parkies,” in packs with gum for five cents. He also partnered with food companies such as Nabisco, Quaker Oats, and Kellogg to insert them in their product boxes. Hockey cards had last been manufactured in 1940 when O-Pee-Chee printed them, but not since, so Parkhurst’s arrival in 1951 included the first cards for many players who debuted in the league during the previous decade. There are not enough superlatives to describe the beauty of the 1951 Parkhurst Richard. With its gorgeous, oversized borders, unique stats and card numbering, and stunning artwork, the ‘51 Parkie Richard shows “Rocket” on the ice with his stick in hand, ready for action. Wearing his trademark Montreal colors, the card provides fans an opportunity to see a young and athletic Richard preparing for another title. By 1951, Maurice Richard had established himself as arguably the game’s best player as he led his team to Stanley Cup victories in 1944 and 1946. Although the Canadiens eventually lost to Gordie Howe (his successor to the throne) and the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup finals, Richard had become so established that even Queen Elizabeth came to see him play at the Forum in 1951. Game 7 of the Stanley Cup semi-finals forever cemented Richard's legacy. With the score tied in the second period, Richard dove between Boston Bruins players to get the puck. Playing without helmets during this era, Richard suffered a severe injury after landing on his head. Paramedics removed Richard from the ice, bleeding from his head and unconscious. After getting stitches and regaining consciousness, he returned to the game with blurred vision only five minutes later and, naturally, scored the game’s winning goal. The fans at the Forum went delirious, and the game had to be stopped for several minutes. One of the most iconic photographs in sports history shows Richard shaking a Bruins player’s hand after the game. Richard is wearing a headbandage, and blood is pouring down his face. This is how legends are born. This stunning card represents this period in Richard’s career–the ultimate treasure for a vintage hockey collector or Richard fan. So, it should come as no surprise that when examples surface, they attract as much attention as the industry's most coveted vintage rookie cards. Graded a strong NM+ PSA 7.5, this card has also earned Fanatics Collect E Eye Appeal designation. The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 04/17/2026.