Monday 19 October 2026 marks 60 years since an 18-year-old from Parry Sound made his NHL debut for Boston. Six decades on, Bobby Orr is still the first name in any argument about the greatest defenceman ever.
He did not just play defence, he reinvented it, rushing end to end and winning scoring titles from the blue line. Grew up on the legend? Browse our Boston Bruins collection.
Bobby Orr Fact File
| Full name | Robert Gordon Orr |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 March 1948 (age 78) |
| Place of birth | Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Position | Defenceman (shoots left) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Current status | Retired (1978); former player agent and Bruins legend |
| Shirt number | 4 (retired by the Bruins on 9 January 1979) |
Career History
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966–67 | Boston | 61 | 13 | 28 | 41 |
| 1967–68 | Boston | 46 | 11 | 20 | 31 |
| 1968–69 | Boston | 67 | 21 | 43 | 64 |
| 1969–70 | Boston | 76 | 33 | 87 | 120 |
| 1970–71 | Boston | 78 | 37 | 102 | 139 |
| 1971–72 | Boston | 76 | 37 | 80 | 117 |
| 1972–73 | Boston | 63 | 29 | 72 | 101 |
| 1973–74 | Boston | 74 | 32 | 90 | 122 |
| 1974–75 | Boston | 80 | 46 | 89 | 135 |
| 1975–76 | Boston | 10 | 5 | 13 | 18 |
| 1976–77 | Chicago | 20 | 4 | 19 | 23 |
| 1977–78 | Chicago | Did not play (knee injury) | |||
| 1978–79 | Chicago | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Career | NHL | 657 | 270 | 645 | 915 |
Note: NHL regular season only, from Hockey-Reference and cross-checked with Wikipedia. Play-offs: 92 points in 74 games.
Early Years in Parry Sound
Orr was playing organised hockey in Parry Sound by the age of five. He started as a forward before coach Bucko McDonald moved him to defence. Boston scouts spotted him at a tournament in Gananoque, and at 14 he joined the Oshawa Generals, the Bruins' junior affiliate, starring against players years older.
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Breakthrough in Boston
Orr debuted on 19 October 1966 and won the Calder Trophy as the top rookie. A year later came the first of eight straight Norris Trophies. In 1969–70 he became the first defenceman to reach 100 points, finishing with 120 and the Art Ross Trophy as league top scorer.
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The Goal and the Glory Years
On 10 May 1970, 40 seconds into overtime of Game 4 against St. Louis, Orr took Derek Sanderson's pass, beat Glenn Hall and flew across the crease. Ray Lussier's photo of him airborne became an iconic sporting image, now a statue outside TD Garden. He won the Conn Smythe that spring and again in 1972, scoring the Cup winner against the Rangers. In 1970–71 he set the defenceman records of 139 points and 102 assists.
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Knees, Chicago and an Early Farewell
His knees paid the price, with repeated operations. He joined the Chicago Black Hawks in 1976 but managed only 26 games, though he was MVP of the 1976 Canada Cup. He retired in 1978 and entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979 as its youngest player inductee.
Honours
Team
- Stanley Cup: 1970, 1972 (Boston Bruins)
- Canada Cup: 1976 (Canada)
Individual
- Calder Trophy: 1967
- Norris Trophy: 8 (1968 to 1975)
- Hart Trophy: 3 (1970, 1971, 1972)
- Art Ross Trophy: 2 (1970, 1975)
- Conn Smythe Trophy: 2 (1970, 1972)
- Canada Cup MVP: 1976
Recognition
- Hockey Hall of Fame: 1979
- Officer of the Order of Canada: 1979
- Named one of the NHL's 100 Greatest Players: 2017
Away From the Game
After retiring Orr worked as a player agent and has given time to charity. His autobiography, Orr: My Story, came out in 2013, and the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame celebrates him in Parry Sound.
FAQs
How old is Bobby Orr?
Born on 20 March 1948, he is 78.
Where was Bobby Orr born?
Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada.
How tall is Bobby Orr?
He is 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in).
What teams did Bobby Orr play for?
The Boston Bruins (1966 to 1976) and Chicago Black Hawks (1976 to 1978).
What records does Bobby Orr hold?
The single-season defenceman records for points (139) and assists (102), both in 1970–71.
What was Bobby Orr's most famous moment?
"The Goal", his flying overtime Cup winner against St. Louis on 10 May 1970.
Shop the Bobby Orr Collection
Celebrate the man who changed defence forever.
Bobby Orr Men's Hoodie
£39.99
Explore more from the Boston Bruins collection and our wider ice hockey collection, or create your own design with the custom name men's hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Wayne Gretzky Career Story and Mario Lemieux Career Story.
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