Greatest of all time. The fans didn't stop screaming. You'll never see another fan reaction like this towards a player in the history of all professional sports. He was a gentleman of the game and the greatest hockey player of all time.
I remember watching this in 1979. Even then I thought, "Did the Bruins' management seriously expect just a little bit of polite applause and a brief ceremony?" How do you say thanks to a living legend adored by millions?
Wow ... what thunderous ovation -- and Bobby deserved every minute of it!
The legend of Bobby Orr runs so much deeper than his finesse, skill and epitomizing the ultimate athlete. By all accounts Bobby is also a genuinely charitable and kind, humble, moral and decent man ... a respectable role model that any parent would welcome for their children to look up to.
Those knees really betrayed him...look at Bobby, just 31...he should have been in the prime of his career, instead of seeing his number being raised for a great but way too short career.
@AEMoreira81 I read a quote by a long time NHL trainer who said 1971 was the last year he was really, truly healthy. Still went on to do all he did on those bad knees, which is incredible.
I must have seen this video a hundred times and I end up teary eyed every time . The guy was one of a kind original as classy off the ice as on it..!! God bless Bobby Orr!
My mother made me switch the channel over thirty years ago, so that she could watch something else. Thank God for YouTube. I've never seen this in its entirety...until now.
ha...this guy Fitzgerald, talking like some cranky schoolteacher....somehow i don't think events like this could ever happen anymore, getting off script and stuff
Why have Bobby's retirement ceremony against the Moscow Dynamo? Why not against the Habs instead? It would have been great to have seen Lafleur congratulate Orr on his special day!
Orr was God!!! I also am a Montreal Canadien fan (Been following hockey when there were only six teams....yeah, I know....I'm old) but Orr was the greatest of his time and I believe him to be the best defenseman ever. Gretzky best forward and Orr best defense player of all time.
There is nothing more painful in life, then to see a hockey legend like Bobby Orr being forced to shut down his hockey career because of one too many knee injuries. From 1967-1978, Bobby Orr was the best player in the world, and to see him retire at the age of 29, is unherd of. He will always be the best player of all-time in my opinion. How many defencemen out there can win 8 Norris Trophies, 3 straight MVPs, 2 Conn Smythe Trophies, and 2 NHL scoring titles in just 12 years?
Even as a Habs fan, I get chills looking at Orr's retirement ceremony video series (1-5). The man could have played until 45 for sure; too bad for Boston and for hockey in general that we didn't have today's medical technology back then. Safe to say, DAMN he was good. He truly was the best!
Habsfan, Great to see that you enjoy the greats...great rivalry!!! But we in Boston hate the C's as an entity....but respect your greats as much as the game as well......Play on!!!!!!
Juiceman, it is a great rivalry! Hey! I respect your greats as well but sorry, I really hate the Bruins as much as Bruins fans hate the Habs! And that's part of the rivalry! As you said, play on! Cheers!
hope will play against the bruins round 1 of playoffs 2009....always a great series between montreal and boston.....and as usual montreal wins ;-)....go habs go...and vive Bobby Orr....
Who can forget the poignancy of this moment. The greatest hockey player who ever lived - now gone into history. We shall not see the likes of him again. Thank you for the memories, Bobby.
Man, this was a louder applause than Barack Obama's after he won the election! haha! I guess that shows how truly special Bobby was to hockey, to boston and to Canada.
all the teammates look at him and say "goddamn, finally WE'LL get to score some goals"
Bobby ruled. Too bad the NHL doesn't have players like that today. every game is boring. you don't see guys like Bobby today, going around the ice rink 5 times and then scoring a goal...
toronto guy - so leafs fan - but bobby orr is my favourite hockey player all time and probably my favourite canadian - what a class act - every young guy should grow up to be as well mannered and generous as bobby orr was and is. this is so moving. thanks for sharing this.
Boston was witnessing the greatest hockey player and one of the greatest athletes on this planet moving on to the next stage of his life, at 30 years old, so yes, this was very emotional.
Changed the game forever. Only a select few own that distinction in their respective sports. This is the kind of footage that should be shown draftees as they move into the NHL.
Greatest ever, period, and the humility of Orr, Gretzky, Mario, all these hockey greats is miles above these chest pounding jackasses in the NBA and NFL.
@Madisonrvr Based on the career he had I usually put Orr a cut below Ray Bourque based on body of work on Ray's end. (22 years, most at the top or close to it.) Not a knock against Bobby, I just put Ray a little higher up.
@WatchVenusSpa Hard to argue with you, although I think Orr was the man who laid the groundwork for Bourque, Coffey, etc, to take it to the next level. As Gordie Howe said, the biggest disappointment in the history of the NHL was the too-early departure of Bobby Orr. Imagine what the recordbook would look like if Orr was healthy for 20 years? Glad we had him when we did.
"the humility of Orr, Gretzky, Mario, all these hockey greats is miles above these chest pounding jackasses in the NBA and NFL."
amen brother! I just linked to this video from a Bill Simmons column about the Bruins cup. I don't know much of anything about hockey, but I know that Micheal Jordan didn't get this kind of ovation when he retired, or went into the Hall, or anything. Only a really humble person could trigger this kind of response from strangers, even if they're fans.
Bobby Orr is to hockey what the Pilgrims are to the United States..he started it all. Growing up on Cape Cod we had to get up on the roof and spin the antenna to get Ch 38 to watch the games. Boston loved Orr and Orr loved Boston. Boston loved the Bruins. Nothing the Red Sox and Patriots can ever match in this era of free agency and corporate packaging. I got to see Bostons greatest athlete EVER....thanks Bobby!!!
He's been my idol for over 40 years. I wish ALL athletes were made of the stuff he was. humility, humbleness, true gentleman. For hockey fans who never got to see him play..just take our word..HE WAS THE GREATEST!!!
I say this as a Flyer Fan...Bobby Orr was the Greatest Hockey Player of all time....and indeed, one of the greatest athletes of all time.....his name is not out of place among the Mantles, Pele's, Chamberlains, Montana's, and any other sport immortal...Bobby is amongst them easily!! And that is no exxageration!
Greatest of all time. The fans didn't stop screaming. You'll never see another fan reaction like this towards a player in the history of all professional sports. He was a gentleman of the game and the greatest hockey player of all time.
omgitsaidsyay 4 months ago
sound only works in one ear
omgitsaidsyay 4 months ago
The Russians have no idea what to do. Hilarious. Even Stalin didn't get that.
windtested 7 months ago
greatest player ever, greatest fans ever, greatest arena ever
windtested 7 months ago
@windtested yes on all 3...miss that old barn of a building
JoeyPencils 2 months ago
Longest standing ovation in garden history...enough said.
bigpoppa2112 7 months ago
Thanks for putting this on!
VCreativity 8 months ago
The best part was when the MC said "Ladies and gentlemen," to try to quiet the crowd down, and it went even more crazy and loud!
fatgreta1066 8 months ago
Incredible! The crowd just going wild for the longest time! What a tribute to a tremendous player!
smegweevil 8 months ago
anyone else but me balling their eyes out? lol
jaqua524 8 months ago 2
I remember watching this in 1979. Even then I thought, "Did the Bruins' management seriously expect just a little bit of polite applause and a brief ceremony?" How do you say thanks to a living legend adored by millions?
Lava1964 9 months ago
Behold the greatest hockey player who ever lived!
Lava1964 9 months ago 5
Greatest retirement ceremony ever. Period.
windtested 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
4:38 "What do you want me to do?"
GaseousAnomaly001 11 months ago
Madison...excellent comment. I couldn't agree with you more!!
chiefmc22 1 year ago
i cant even imagine what he would have done if he played another 7-10 years
hockeyfreak9494 1 year ago 3
This has been flagged as spam show
Great Video~ Hey guys,HAVE A LOOK on my awesome Bobby Orr 1973-1974 vintage jersey. youtube.com/watch?v=8fT_02IPoWg
thechinahub 1 year ago
It's so beautifully disorganized. I love it.
roboshuffle 1 year ago 3
Wow ... what thunderous ovation -- and Bobby deserved every minute of it!
The legend of Bobby Orr runs so much deeper than his finesse, skill and epitomizing the ultimate athlete. By all accounts Bobby is also a genuinely charitable and kind, humble, moral and decent man ... a respectable role model that any parent would welcome for their children to look up to.
KarmicOmen 1 year ago
Those knees really betrayed him...look at Bobby, just 31...he should have been in the prime of his career, instead of seeing his number being raised for a great but way too short career.
AEMoreira81 1 year ago
@AEMoreira81 I read a quote by a long time NHL trainer who said 1971 was the last year he was really, truly healthy. Still went on to do all he did on those bad knees, which is incredible.
Madisonrvr 1 year ago
I must have seen this video a hundred times and I end up teary eyed every time . The guy was one of a kind original as classy off the ice as on it..!! God bless Bobby Orr!
caz62 1 year ago
not sure there as ever been an ovation like this in sports ever, he seems so overwhelmed, but well deserving of it all, great crowd.
rufusgrass 1 year ago
Thank you #4.
7redsox46 1 year ago 4
My mother made me switch the channel over thirty years ago, so that she could watch something else. Thank God for YouTube. I've never seen this in its entirety...until now.
Wizjkahna 1 year ago
They LOVE YOU ORR!!!!
goomstomp 1 year ago
ha...this guy Fitzgerald, talking like some cranky schoolteacher....somehow i don't think events like this could ever happen anymore, getting off script and stuff
myunclesnephew 1 year ago
wheres the sound on segment 2 of Bobby orr's retirement?
Arment24 1 year ago
The cheered because each of them knew that they would never see a player even remotely like Orr ever again, and they were right
MidnightRambler444 1 year ago
Yes he did! He was the best!
KennedyRegan 2 years ago
He deserved every single second of that ovation.
Sircornflakes 2 years ago 4
Michael Vick and Terrell Owens should be forced to watch this. That is respect, you two fucking monkeys.
tomcruisemustache 2 years ago 7
watch your mouth honky
aopopoipo 2 years ago
Amazing standing O
hoth1138 2 years ago
I don't know whats longer....this one or the one for Gordie Howe in the 1980 all star game
WoodyAllenNY 2 years ago
WoodyAllenNY, the ovation for the Rocket in 1996 at the closing of the Forum in Montreal lasted 8 minutes!
Habsfan0206 2 years ago
yeah I saw that.....but I think the clip was shortened
WoodyAllenNY 2 years ago
Why have Bobby's retirement ceremony against the Moscow Dynamo? Why not against the Habs instead? It would have been great to have seen Lafleur congratulate Orr on his special day!
Habsfan0206 2 years ago 2
Haha man idk i would hav liked to see that. But some ppl werent too smart back then!
Harkins1721 2 years ago
no disrespect to gretzky, but orr was always the best skater on the ice and played defenseman. he changed that position forever.
puredmashie 2 years ago 2
I agree. Gretzky was a FANTASTIC goal scorer but he wasnt like Orrs skating.
Harkins1721 2 years ago 5
Orr was God!!! I also am a Montreal Canadien fan (Been following hockey when there were only six teams....yeah, I know....I'm old) but Orr was the greatest of his time and I believe him to be the best defenseman ever. Gretzky best forward and Orr best defense player of all time.
norm58 2 years ago
I'm a Habs fan but Orr was the geatest defencman who ever laced on skates
ottvalley 2 years ago
The greatest player of all time.
mattmill88 2 years ago 5
There is nothing more painful in life, then to see a hockey legend like Bobby Orr being forced to shut down his hockey career because of one too many knee injuries. From 1967-1978, Bobby Orr was the best player in the world, and to see him retire at the age of 29, is unherd of. He will always be the best player of all-time in my opinion. How many defencemen out there can win 8 Norris Trophies, 3 straight MVPs, 2 Conn Smythe Trophies, and 2 NHL scoring titles in just 12 years?
Victor1970s 2 years ago
he could have lasted til he was 45. haha i can see it now.
Harkins1721 2 years ago 3
Even as a Habs fan, I get chills looking at Orr's retirement ceremony video series (1-5). The man could have played until 45 for sure; too bad for Boston and for hockey in general that we didn't have today's medical technology back then. Safe to say, DAMN he was good. He truly was the best!
Habsfan0206 2 years ago 3
Habsfan, Great to see that you enjoy the greats...great rivalry!!! But we in Boston hate the C's as an entity....but respect your greats as much as the game as well......Play on!!!!!!
juiceman1965 2 years ago 3
Juiceman, it is a great rivalry! Hey! I respect your greats as well but sorry, I really hate the Bruins as much as Bruins fans hate the Habs! And that's part of the rivalry! As you said, play on! Cheers!
Habsfan0206 2 years ago 2
only the left side of the audio for this vid is working, what's up with that? Part 1 worked in both sides.
RichieEastside 2 years ago
Oh My God! Roughly 6.5 minutes of standing ovations! That is one hell of a welcome!
Alexanderzzzzon 2 years ago 2
great great great
greatness
allenst 3 years ago 2
THE B'S ARE BACK
hoth1138 3 years ago 2
hope will play against the bruins round 1 of playoffs 2009....always a great series between montreal and boston.....and as usual montreal wins ;-)....go habs go...and vive Bobby Orr....
greekbastard8 2 years ago
They were playing against the Soviet wings.
abc1000001 3 years ago
who were the Bruins playing against?
FanikII 3 years ago
to this day, by far the loudest building in the history of indoor arenas
windtested 3 years ago
I agree..I saw game 7 against Montreal at the garden, the B's won the best day of my life.
hoth1138 3 years ago
That building rocked!!!! no matter what we saw there!
JoeyPencils 3 years ago
Who can forget the poignancy of this moment. The greatest hockey player who ever lived - now gone into history. We shall not see the likes of him again. Thank you for the memories, Bobby.
gangster3591 3 years ago 4
i love bobby orr. and boston. they boo the guest speakers thats priceless!
zoso4986 3 years ago 3
Amazing!!! 8 minute standing ovation. Just think about the emotion involved in that. WOW!!!
deythur 3 years ago 4
I LOVE the way the crowd got LOUDER whenever the announcer tried to stop the ovation!!! :
"Ladies and gentlemen" then the audience took it up a notch!!!!
silverfox4743 3 years ago
Man, this was a louder applause than Barack Obama's after he won the election! haha! I guess that shows how truly special Bobby was to hockey, to boston and to Canada.
dfbhcf 3 years ago 2
I bleed the blue and white of the Maple Leafs,but I don't care what anybody says,Orr is the greatest hockey player of all time.
kissed61 3 years ago 13
all the teammates look at him and say "goddamn, finally WE'LL get to score some goals"
Bobby ruled. Too bad the NHL doesn't have players like that today. every game is boring. you don't see guys like Bobby today, going around the ice rink 5 times and then scoring a goal...
PanekPL 3 years ago
I hate to say oit because I love them both but Larry Bird's night did not really come close to this
donneric 3 years ago
I have to think this is the greatest ovation ever. It was so loud in there you'd have thought the roof was going to fall off the old Garden.
I loved that place ... Obstructed Views, rats and all!
RiotNrrrdUTube 3 years ago
There used to be a saying, only two people were never booed in Boston, Bobby Orr & Luis Tiant.
TeeKay19 3 years ago 3
Class act, nice guy and the best ever. They don't make em like this anymore. Period!
dadababs 3 years ago 10
Bobby Orr is Bostons greatest sports athlete
Mark1379 3 years ago 25
Bobby Orr's wife is the hottest hockey wife I ever seen. I guess it goes without saying the best hockey player gets the best wife.
OilersCanadasTeam 3 years ago 6
toronto guy - so leafs fan - but bobby orr is my favourite hockey player all time and probably my favourite canadian - what a class act - every young guy should grow up to be as well mannered and generous as bobby orr was and is. this is so moving. thanks for sharing this.
koho68steve 3 years ago 4
Boston was witnessing the greatest hockey player and one of the greatest athletes on this planet moving on to the next stage of his life, at 30 years old, so yes, this was very emotional.
MidnightRambler444 3 years ago
I am obviously not old enough to have ever seen Orr play but I can sense the greatness thanks to YT.
Rsd79 3 years ago 4
You were and still lucky to have this man play for Boston, and I am a Habs fan.
biko0909 3 years ago 2
I was a Ranger fan who hated the Bruins back then but I loved Bobby Orr..He was the best!!
hitthepost59 3 years ago 4
Changed the game forever. Only a select few own that distinction in their respective sports. This is the kind of footage that should be shown draftees as they move into the NHL.
bepositiveone 3 years ago 2
Greatest ever, period, and the humility of Orr, Gretzky, Mario, all these hockey greats is miles above these chest pounding jackasses in the NBA and NFL.
Madisonrvr 3 years ago 33
Amen.
mwoelfle 3 years ago 2
@Madisonrvr FUCK YOU!
sportsjunky1996 1 year ago
@sportsjunky1996
Madison is simply -- and correctly implying -- that "role models" in sports today are far removed from what they once were.
KarmicOmen 1 year ago
@Madisonrvr Based on the career he had I usually put Orr a cut below Ray Bourque based on body of work on Ray's end. (22 years, most at the top or close to it.) Not a knock against Bobby, I just put Ray a little higher up.
WatchVenusSpa 1 year ago
@WatchVenusSpa Hard to argue with you, although I think Orr was the man who laid the groundwork for Bourque, Coffey, etc, to take it to the next level. As Gordie Howe said, the biggest disappointment in the history of the NHL was the too-early departure of Bobby Orr. Imagine what the recordbook would look like if Orr was healthy for 20 years? Glad we had him when we did.
Madisonrvr 1 year ago
@Madisonrvr
"the humility of Orr, Gretzky, Mario, all these hockey greats is miles above these chest pounding jackasses in the NBA and NFL."
amen brother! I just linked to this video from a Bill Simmons column about the Bruins cup. I don't know much of anything about hockey, but I know that Micheal Jordan didn't get this kind of ovation when he retired, or went into the Hall, or anything. Only a really humble person could trigger this kind of response from strangers, even if they're fans.
fatgreta1066 8 months ago 3
i am a habs fan
i had tears watching him and his retirement
allenst 4 years ago 3
He always looks so embarrassed in situations like this. It's amazing how humble the guy is.
bostonrocker69 4 years ago
I am a Flyers fan but Bobby Orr was always my hero,The greatest Hockey player to ever grace the game
rhonamrea 4 years ago 8
the greatest player i ever saw
jenniferhuse 4 years ago 4
Bobby Orr is to hockey what the Pilgrims are to the United States..he started it all. Growing up on Cape Cod we had to get up on the roof and spin the antenna to get Ch 38 to watch the games. Boston loved Orr and Orr loved Boston. Boston loved the Bruins. Nothing the Red Sox and Patriots can ever match in this era of free agency and corporate packaging. I got to see Bostons greatest athlete EVER....thanks Bobby!!!
umass84 4 years ago 2
best ovation ever thank god for Robert Gordon Orr
donneric 4 years ago
one has to understand that Bobby Orr is a god upon the earth
TenneyMead 4 years ago
OK, I admit it... I got teary eyed.
The greatest player of all time comes home to the final bow.
fornulf 4 years ago
need we say more than number 4 ?
THX for that, Bobby was the greatest ever
kreisforever 4 years ago
He's been my idol for over 40 years. I wish ALL athletes were made of the stuff he was. humility, humbleness, true gentleman. For hockey fans who never got to see him play..just take our word..HE WAS THE GREATEST!!!
TheSpindles 4 years ago
I say this as a Flyer Fan...Bobby Orr was the Greatest Hockey Player of all time....and indeed, one of the greatest athletes of all time.....his name is not out of place among the Mantles, Pele's, Chamberlains, Montana's, and any other sport immortal...Bobby is amongst them easily!! And that is no exxageration!
Albertanator 4 years ago 2
Man! Do I remember this! What a night! Thanks nitram for a fabulous video!
How true misha, THE GREATEST hockey player EVER!
RELubber 4 years ago
Thanks for posting this video! Bobby Orr is the greatest hockey player that ever lived!
misha444 4 years ago
I remember this so vividly. He was and still is the Zeus of Boston's Sports Olympus, more than Ted, more than Larry, more than Pedro.
TenneyMead 4 years ago
Give the people what they want!
Lava1964 4 years ago