The sports world lost another great one Friday with the death of ‘Mr. Hockey’ at age 88. The Gordie Howe rookie card from the 1951-52 Parkhurst set is one of the most important ever made and represents the beginning of a career that began in 1946 and didn’t end until 1980.
Howe appeared on Topps’ first hockey set in 1954-55 and was still active when the company produced its 1979-80 set that featured Wayne Gretzky.
Howe’s rookie card can fetch thousands of dollars in higher grade but lower grade examples can still be obtained for $1,000-$2,000, making it one of the more attainable cards of any 20th century sports legend. His second card, in 1952-53 is a less expensive option that still captures him in the early stages of his career.
The record price for a Howe rookie card was set in 2015 when an SGC 96 (mint) example sold for more than $29,000. Few high-grade examples exist and they don’t come to market very often. Prices for PSA 8 (nm/mt) examples have doubled over the past decade. The last sale was $17,101 recorded in 2015.
Until his health made it difficult, Howe signed thousands of cards for modern era trading card products, some also featuring other icons like Wayne Gretzky when both were under contract to Upper Deck. The total number of different Gordie Howe hockey cards numbers over 3,000 according to Beckett. Many of the autographs and signed relic cards from the last 20 years are among the most sought after cards in certain products.
For a look at the current ‘most watched’ Gordie Howe cards on eBay, see the live list below.
|
1951/52 Parkhurst Gordie Howe Rookie RC - PSA 1
47 bids - Price: $1,065.94 - Watchers: 112
Item #202700214893
|
|
|
1951 Parkhurst Gordie Howe ROOKIE RC #66 PSA 4.5 VGEX+ (PWCC-E)
13 bids - Price: $1,947.72 - Watchers: 46
Item #352692196975
|
|
|
1951 Parkhurst Gordie Howe ROOKIE RC #66 PSA 2 GD (PWCC-A)
8 bids - Price: $830.00 - Watchers: 39
Item #352692196972
|
|
|
1964 Topps Gordie Howe #89. PSA 8 NM-MT Near Mint
32 bids - Price: $605.90 - Watchers: 34
Item #163730177728
|
|
|
GORDIE HOWE 1959 TOPPS PSA 8 - $10 STARTING BID - LOW BUY IT NOW PRICE
13 bids - Price: $137.50 - Watchers: 28
Item #202701959815
|
|
|
1963 Parkhurst Gordie Howe #5. PSA 9 MT Mint.
14 bids - Price: $620.86 - Watchers: 26
Item #163730235864
|
|
|
2007 The Cup Hockey Scripted Swatches Gordie Howe AUTO PATCH /10 #SS-GH (PWCC)
5 bids - Price: $129.50 - Watchers: 26
Item #352692228438
|
|
|
2010-11 The Cup GORDIE HOWE Stanley Cup Signatures On-Card Auto /50 Red Wings
15 bids - Price: $122.50 - Watchers: 21
Item #233257016766
|
|
|
1954-55 Parkhurst #41 Gordie Howe Ksa 5 Ex
9 bids - Price: $23.19 - Watchers: 21
Item #264359625545
|
|
|
1957-58 Topps #42 Gordie Howe
30 bids - Price: $260.00 - Watchers: 20
Item #223546703855
|
|
|
1954 Topps Hockey Gordie Howe #8 PSA 6 EXMT (PWCC-E)
9 bids - Price: $731.00 - Watchers: 18
Item #352692197698
|
|
|
1971-72 Topps Set Break # 70 Gordie Howe NR-MINT *GMCARDS*
13 bids - Price: $18.50 - Watchers: 16
Item #133076724771
|
|
|
1952-53 Parkhurst #88 Gordie Howe
11 bids - Price: $102.50 - Watchers: 16
Item #223547798814
|
|
|
1966-67 Topps #109 Gordie Howe
13 bids - Price: $32.11 - Watchers: 15
Item #323830357862
|
|
|
2017 LEAF IN THE GAME USED VINTAGE MEMORABILIA JERSEY /7 RED WINGS - GORDIE HOWE
5 bids - Price: $3.78 - Watchers: 14
Item #283514850466
|
|
|
1960-61 Parkhurst #20 Gordie Howe
5 bids - Price: $9.50 - Watchers: 14
Item #323832132709
|
|
|
1965-66 Topps Hockey #122 Gordie Howe SP...VG..Set Break
9 bids - Price: $20.50 - Watchers: 12
Item #192945377869
|
|
|
1966 Topps Hockey SETBREAK Gordie Howe #109 PSA 7 NRMT (PWCC)
3 bids - Price: $46.00 - Watchers: 12
Item #401786529303
|
|
|
17-18 LEAF STICKWORK GAME USED STICK /4 MR HOCKEY - GORDIE HOWE
9 bids - Price: $4.49 - Watchers: 11
Item #283514849373
|
|
|
💥 rare 2001 PRE-PARKIE AUTOGRAPH 405/500 GORDIE HOWE
11 bids - Price: $53.00 - Watchers: 11
Item #323831744223
|
|
|
1977 O-PEE-CHEE WHA #1 GORDIE HOWE HOF LOT OF 3 NMMT H179435
9 bids - Price: $19.50 - Watchers: 11
Item #352688689431
|
|
|
1965-66 Topps Hockey Gordie Howe #122 - SP - Detroit Red Wings - EX-MT
18 bids - Price: $140.50 - Watchers: 11
Item #372688330283
|
|
|
Gordie Howe HOF Signed Auto 1944-63 Beehive Group II Photos #178B (C On Sweater)
5 bids - Price: $10.51 - Watchers: 11
Item #372688872348
|
|
|
1965 Topps Hockey Gordie Howe #108 PSA 8 NM-MT (PWCC)
5 bids - Price: $3.25 - Watchers: 10
Item #401786520198
|
|
|
1954-55 Parkhurst #41 Gordie Howe
16 bids - Price: $192.50 - Watchers: 9
Item #223547717174
|
|
|
1967-68 Topps #43 Gordie Howe
6 bids - Price: $13.50 - Watchers: 9
Item #323832077186
|
|
|
Gordie Howe HOF Red Wings Signed Auto 1944-63 Beehive Group II Photos #178A
4 bids - Price: $10.51 - Watchers: 9
Item #383003620668
|
|
|
1969-70 O-Pee-Chee Gordie Howe Mr.Hockey #nno EX Vintage Hockey Card
10 bids - Price: $8.60 - Watchers: 8
Item #202699270516
|
|
|
1967-68 Topps Hockey Gordie Howe #43 - Detroit Red Wings - VG+
4 bids - Price: $6.50 - Watchers: 8
Item #383005219366
|
|
|
2007-08 Upper Deck Sweet Shot Gordie Howe Autograph Puck Signings
5 bids - Price: $66.00 - Watchers: 7
Item #183841976170
|
Related Stories:
Top 10 Hockey Rookie Cards of the 1950s
Celebrate Hockey’s Return With 10 Great Cards
Topps Made History with 1954-55 Hockey Set Despite MIA Canadian Teams
1955-56 Parkhurst Hockey Set Shouldn’t Be Forgotten
1952-53 Parkhurst Hockey Set Included Better Quality; Wild Wrapper
1953-54 Parkhurst Hockey Set Had Top Rookies; Errors, Too
1957-58 Topps Hockey Set Marked Company’s Return to NHL Cards
Bobby Orr Cards Still a Magnet for Collectors
Vintage Buy of the Week: Hockey Card Bonanza
1967-68 Topps Hockey Set Kept to Original 6
Bottom Mobile
