From www.CheckOutMyCards.com , a 1971 Topps hockey card of former Boston Bruin Derek Sanderson. He won the NHL’s Calder Trophy as Rookie of The Year in 1968, and was a key player on the Bruins’ Stanley Cup winning teams in 1970 and 1972. Sanderson was a flamboyant character, the “Joe Namath of the NHL”, and even partnered with Broadway Joe in opening the Bachelor’s III nightclub in New York City. Nicknamed “Turk”, Sanderson’s career flamed out after the early success in Boston. He signed a huge contract with the WHA Philadelphia Blazers but never played well there, returning to Boston and later being traded to the New York Rangers. He battled alcoholism, to the point where he almost wound up homeless. Eventually, former teammate Bobby Orr paid to check Sanderson into rehab, and he recovered and went on to a ten-year career broadcasting on NESN (New England Sports Network).
