Wayne Gretzky rookie card sells for $3.75 million

[transplant99]

A 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card has sold for $3.75 million in a private sale brokered through Heritage Auctions.

The card was graded a Gem Mint 10 and blew past the previous record for a hockey card, which was set this past December when the same version of the Gretzky card sold for $1.29 million, also with Heritage Auctions. The card that sold in December had previously sold for $465,000 in 2016 and $94,000 in 2011.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/...rd-hockey-card

[codynw]

This has to be some sort of money laundering thing, right? No way the card is actually worth that much to anybody.

[Barnet Flame]

I had so many hockey cards back then. Apart from 1978 when Miss Slomka confiscated my cards.

I still hate her.

[the_only_turek_fan]

There is a huge hockey card community on IG. Some of the best people in the world.

I have been able to compete sets that I thought I would never get the chance to complete.

[blankall]

This is on par with similar sales in other sports. A Lebron rookie just sold for $5.2 million.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I have a second year, I'd let it go for a million if anyone is interested.

[topfiverecords]

Just went through my entire truckload of hockey cards from the 80s a couple months ago and the only good ones were these at the very bottom of the last box.

[MJK]

Card market is the hottest it’s ever been. Just insane what cards are going for eight now. I just sold a Tom Brady RC graded PSA 9 for $4500. Found it in a box.

[Svartsengi]

I am looking to sell my collection. I have to go through it as it has been years since I looked at it. I never had any of the cards graded but not sure if it’s worth it to pay the extra money to do that. I contacted Andy’s Sports cards here in Calgary but they weren’t interested in buying any of it. Does anyone have recommendations on a place in Calgary to contact?. Thanks

[Locke]

Fools and their money are easily parted.

[Svartsengi]

I noticed that AA sports cards out of Vancouver says they buy cards from all over Canada. Has anyone done business with them?. Thanks

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

I had so many hockey cards back then. Apart from 1978 when Miss Slomka confiscated my cards.

I still hate her.

haha my grandmother (who passed away last year at 100 and was not Miss Slomka) was a high school teacher/librarian


she had confiscated vintage cards by the hundreds and sent them across the country to me (when I was 8- not now)! win!

[Strange Brew]

I saved all of my cards from when I was a kid and have three of these Gretzky rookie cards. Obviously not mint but they’re not held together with tape either.

Guess I should get them graded? My son keeps them in a safe in his room. As I understand it, condition is everything with these cards.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Svartsengi

I am looking to sell my collection. I have to go through it as it has been years since I looked at it. I never had any of the cards graded but not sure if it’s worth it to pay the extra money to do that. I contacted Andy’s Sports cards here in Calgary but they weren’t interested in buying any of it. Does anyone have recommendations on a place in Calgary to contact?. Thanks

Depends on what you have — lots of people have old card collections that really aren’t worth much. Older cards of HOF caliber players have some value, especially rookie cards in good condition. Anything from the late 80s to the early to mid 90s does not. Cards don’t have to be graded to be valuable but unless they are in demand (like a Gretzky or Lemieux rookie) there’s likely no upside.

There are a couple of other card shops in Calgary (google Maple Leaf Sports and Eastridge Sports Cards); Andy’s is a good place to learn more about the hobby as he’s friendly and easy to talk to. I’m not sure if he actually looked at your cards but most people with the late 80s to early 90s stuff — which accounts for a large percentage of cards out there because they were massively overproduced — find out they don’t hold any meaningful value (with only very rare exceptions).

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by MJK

Card market is the hottest it’s ever been. Just insane what cards are going for eight now. I just sold a Tom Brady RC graded PSA 9 for $4500. Found it in a box.

Just insane. I used to dabble in football cards during the late 90’s, but stopped in 2000 — right before Brady’s rookie year

[Coach]

Pretty sure my dad has one of these in the freezer.

[GordonBlue]

I cry when I think of the value of cards I used in the late 70s early 80s in the spokes of my bike to make the "motorbike" sound

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I saved all of my cards from when I was a kid and have three of these Gretzky rookie cards. Obviously not mint but they’re not held together with tape either.

Guess I should get them graded? My son keeps them in a safe in his room. As I understand it, condition is everything with these cards.

I have one. I’m keeping it. If I had three I would have them graded, with the expectation the grading might cost more than the cards are worth. That’s not uncommon.

I’d likely then sell the lesser two.

[Newton]

Originally Posted by transplant99

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/...rd-hockey-card

I sold a Wayne Gretzky rookie card for $100 around 1985. At the time it was something like winning the lotto.

[speede5]

To be fair a Gem Mint 10 is a near impossible find. Grading is hyper critical of even the most miniscule defect. Any card that has been anywhere but straight from a pack to a sleeve is unlikely to come close. In the 70's and 80's most cards were mishandled, by todays standards anyway. If Miss Slomka got her hands on it at any point you'd be lucky to get a 5. haha