Morphin' Rangers...

Andy Bathgate
2011-12 O-Pee-Chee #516

Taking a look at cards of the New York Rangers. Some of them are new to my collection, others I've had for a while.

I believe that jersey number 9 is now retired by every single one of the Original Six teams.

The New York Rangers have actually honored two players under that digit:
Andy Bathgate & Adam Graves, both in 2009.

Note the Rangers logo used from 1967-1971.

Pavel Bure
2002-03 O-Pee-Chee #16

Before number 9 was retired it was briefly worn by Hall of Famer Pavel Bure, who was with the NYR from 2002-2003.

Bure must have chosen 9, as number 10 was occupied by Sandy McCarthy.


Eric Lindros and Sandy McCarthy are visible on the bench in this snapshot.

Ed Giacomin
1991-92 Ultimate Original Six #20

Another retired NYR number is the oldschool goalie jersey number 1.

Eddie Giacomin was the Rangers goaltender for a decade (1966-1976).

His was the second Ranger number to be retired (after Rod Gilbert's number 7).

Chuck Rayner
2003-04 Parkhurst Original Six New York #87

Jersey number 1 was also worn by Chuck Rayner, the Rangers starting goaltender for 7 seasons (1945-1953). Won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1949-50, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973.

Note the even older Rangers logo used from 1936-1947.

Ron Duguay
1982-83 O-Pee-Chee #221

I kinda thought it was only for a short while, but the Rangers had "New York" on their blue road uniforms for almost a decade (1978-1987). Their white home uniforms still had the word "Rangers".

Brian Leetch
1999-00 O-Pee-Chee #30

The popular blue Statue of Liberty jerseys were first introduced in 1996. A white version was also briefly worn during 1998-99.

In the 1999-00 O-Pee-Chee set, both Brian Leetch and Peter Nedved are depicted wearing this jersey.

Brian Leetch's number 2 jersey was also retired by the Rangers in 2008.