• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
    • Advertise with SC Daily
    • Write for Sports Collectors Daily
    • Write About Your Sports Collection
    • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?
  • Hot on eBay
    • Most Watched Graded Rookies
    • Most Watched PSA 10 Cards
    • Most Watched BGS, BVG Cards
    • Most Watched SGC Cards
    • Most Watched CSG,CGC Cards
    • Most Watched Baseball Cards
      • Most Watched 2023 Baseball Cards
      • Most Watched 2022 Baseball Rookie Cards
      • Bowman Chrome Cards
      • Ronald Acuna Jr. Cards
      • Shohei Ohtani Cards
      • Mike Trout Cards
      • Fernando Tatis Jr. Cards
      • Babe Ruth Cards
      • Hank Aaron Cards
      • Jackie Robinson Cards:
      • Mickey Mantle Cards
      • Willie Mays Cards
      • Vintage Baseball Card Sets
      • T206 Cards
    • Most Watched Basketball
      • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2022-23 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2021-22 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2020-21 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2019-20 NBA Rookie Cards
        • Zion Williamson Rookie Cards
        • Ja Morant Rookie Cards
      • Michael Jordan Cards
      • Kobe Bryant Cards
      • LeBron James Rookie Cards
      • Nikola Jokic Rookie Cards
      • Giannis Antetokounmpo Cards
      • Luka Doncic Rookie Cards
      • Prizm Basketball Cards
      • Panini National Treasures
    • Most Watched Football Cards
      • Most Watched NFL Rookie Cards
      • 2022 NFL Rookie Cards
        • Brock Purdy Rookie Cards
      • 2021 NFL Rookie Cards
      • 2020 NFL Rookie Cards
        • Joe Burrow Rookie Cards
        • Justin Herbert Rookie Cards
        • Jalen Hurts Rookie Cards
      • Josh Allen Rookie Cards
      • Patrick Mahomes Rookie Cards
      • Tom Brady Cards
    • Most Watched Hockey Cards
      • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2021-22 NHL Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2020-21 Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2019-20 Rookie Cards
      • Connor McDavid Cards
      • Wayne Gretzky Cards
      • Bobby Orr Cards
    • Most Watched Soccer Cards
    • Most Watched UFC Cards
    • Most Watched Golf Cards
    • Most Watched 1 of 1 Cards
    • Most Watched Racing Cards
    • Top Sports Card Dealers on eBay
    • Most Watched Memorabilia
      • Vintage Sports Memorabilia
    • Vintage Sports Tickets, Stubs
    • Most Watched Autographs
  • Ending Soon on Ebay
    • Baseball Cards
    • Basketball Cards
    • Football Cards
    • Hockey Cards
    • Soccer Cards
    • Golf Cards
    • UFC Cards
  • Top - Ad

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports collecting news - Sports cards and sports memorabilia industry news.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. 

  • Sports Memorabilia News
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
      • Shop Talk
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Affordable Vintage Cards, Collectibles
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • Around The Hobby
    • Editor’s Blog
    • David Cycleback’s Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Popular Stories
  • Sell Your Cards
You are here: Home / Business/Industry News / Sports Memorabilia Industry News / Gretzky Rookie Card Sells for $1.29 Million

Gretzky Rookie Card Sells for $1.29 Million

December 11, 2020 By Rich Mueller

A1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA has broken its own record as the most valuable hockey card ever sold.  Heritage Auctions sold one of the two copies of the card for $1.29 million early Friday morning.  The card last sold in 2016 for $465,000.

Part of an auction of over 3,700 lots of sports cards and memorabilia playing out over four days, the Gretzky OPC rookie is considered the most popular modern era card but it’s difficult to land in high grade, with blue borders that show off wear, inconsistent centering, print marks and other reasons.

The final bid came in at just under $1.1 million, with the 20% buyer’s premium accounting for the price the as yet unknown buyer will pay.

The Gretzky O-Pee-Chee that sold Friday belonged to entrepreneur Patrick Bet-David.

PSA has examined over 6,000 copies of the OPC Gretzky rookie card. In addition to the two rated ’10’, there are 89 Mint 9s, 742 NM/MT 8’s and the rest rank NM or less, attesting to the likelihood that the one you might have in your old shoebox has some value, but won’t put your kid through college.

One of the two PSA 10 Gretzky rookie cards made by O-Pee-Chee’s American big brother Topps, was also up for grabs courtesy of Bet-Davis  It sold for a big price, too:  $720,000, earning him a pretty strong return on his investment.

Sold 2 Gretzky cards last night for $2,010,000.

I’ve been collecting cards since 1990. The market has changed tremendously.

If you’re a serious investor, you may want to consider investing a small portion of your portfolio in cards.

I made 233% return in 17 months. https://t.co/tNBpBrmx9r

— Patrick Bet-David (@patrickbetdavid) December 11, 2020

The photo for the famous card was taken November 9, 1978 when the young Edmonton Oilers star crossed paths with 50-year-old Gordie Howe and the Hartford Whalers in an early season World Hockey Association game at the Springfield (MA) Civic Center.  Photographer Steve Babineau was paid $17 to cover the game.


Wayne Gretzky rookie cards currently on eBay


An unopened box of 48 1979-80 OPC packs–more than likely containing at least one Gretzky rookie– generated plenty of interest from bidders.  It sold for $114,000 .

The catalog included one of Michael Jordan’s rarest cards, a 1997 Skybox Precious Metal Gems Emerald, numbered to 10.  Graded Authentic by PSA, the card sold for a staggering $915,000, against a pre-sale estimate of $500,000. 

In February of 2019, another copy of the card graded Authentic (Altered) sold for what was then a headline-generating $350,100.

“The simple fact is, when collectors see the opportunity to add an unparalleled piece to their collections, you can throw estimates out the window,” stated Heritage Auctions Sports Director Chris Ivy. “That’s clear from the pre-auction estimates that were shattered during this session.”

A fresh-to-the-hobby 1916 M101-4 Sporting News Babe Ruth graded SGC 4 was another big attraction, closing at $360,000. 

The card was part of a collection stored inside a plastic bag by a Florida artist after she inherited them.  Unsure of what they were, she reached out to the auction house which was more than happy to take them on consignment.

The market for sports cards has reached new heights over the past year, with popular modern and vintage era cards consistently selling at unprecedented levels.  Results from Thursday night’s first session proved that with cards on both sides of the spectrum generating investment-type money.  Fourteen items sold for $100,000 or more in the auction.

“These results are indicative of the extremely strong market combined with the amazing marketing we were able to create around the auction,” Ivy stated. “And that has brought hundreds of new and eager bidders into the marketplace.”

Other items sold included:

  • 2013-14 Panini Prizm Giannis Antetokounmpo Autograph Prizms Black) #33 (1/1) BGS 9.5 ($384,000)
  • 1933 Delong Lou Gehrig #7 PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 – Pop One, None Higher ($264,000)
  • 2003-04 SP Authentic LeBron James (Rookie Autographs) #148 BGS 10 #336/500  ($204,000)
  • 1973 Topps Mike Schmidt #615 Rookie Card PSA 10 ($174,000)
  • 1958 Alifabolaget Pele #635 Rookie Card PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 ($132,000)
  • 1975 Topps #228 George Brett Rookie Card PSA 10 $117,000)

The auction continues with additional lots set to be sold Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.


Check the most watched auctions for sports cards and memorabilia on eBay anytime here.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Facebook Messenger

Related Stories:

Babe, Mick Combine for $1 Million Plus in Heritage Summer Sports Card Auction Babe Ruth Rookie Card Traded for 1975 Topps Mini Set Brings $328,800 at Auction 1979-80 Topps Hockey Ushered In New Era Babe Ruth Rookie Card Found in Old Piano Now at Auction Ruth Bat, Rookie Card Top REA Sale 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Box–Still Sealed–Coming to Auction Wayne Gretzky OPC rookie card PSA 10Lone PSA 10 O-Pee-Chee Gretzky Rookie Card Set for Auction Unopened 1979-80 OPC hockey card boxLong Live the 80s: BGS 10 Jordan Rookie, ’79-80 OPC Hockey Box Drawing Big Bids

About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for over 40 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected].

Filed Under: Popular Stories, Sports Memorabilia Industry News Tagged With: 1916 Babe Ruth rookie card, 1916 M101-4, 1979-80 OPC hockey, 1979-80 Topps Hockey, Precious Metal Gems, sports card market, wayne gretzky rookie card

Primary Sidebar

Our articles may contain affiliate links. When you click on links to merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. 

Shop Sports Cards on Ebay
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Hockey

High End Cards and Memorabilia

  • BBCE Authenticated Boxes, Packs opens in a new window
  • Graded pre-War Card eBay Auctions
  • PWCC Premier Auction
  • PWCC Fixed Price Marketplace
  • Graded Rookie Cards on eBay opens in a new window
  • Authenticated Photos on eBay opens in a new window
  • Graded Tickets & Stubs opens in a new window

Bargain Corner

  • Michael Jordan cards $5 and less opens in a new window
  • Kobe Bryant cards $5 and less opens in a new window
  • Mickey Mantle Cards Under $150 opens in a new window
  • Graded T206 Cards Under $150 opens in a new window
  • Pre-War Cards Under $100 opens in a new window
  • Pre-1980 Graded Baseball Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Pre-1980 Graded Football Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Basketball Cards $25 and less opens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Hockey Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Complete Sets $20 and Less opens in a new window
  • Baseball Hall of Famers for $5 or Less opens in a new window
  • Football Hall of Famers for $5 or Less opens in a new window
  • Hobby Boxes Under $30 opens in a new window
  • Pre-1986 Rookie Cards Under $1 opens in a new window
  • Buy Boxes Directly from Topps opens in a new window

RSS Auction Report

  • Watch The Iconic Auctions LiveStream Preview Show – October 4, 2023 at 8 PM CST
  • Grey Flannel Auctions Accepting Consignments & Buying
  • Huggins and Scott Accepting Consignments For 2023 Auctions

Footer

Categories

  • Around the Hobby
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • David Cycleback's Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Editor's Blog
  • Featured Articles
  • Hobby Shop Talk
  • National Sports Collectors Convention
  • Popular Stories
  • Rich Klein's Ramblings
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Sports Memorabilia News
  • Uncategorized

Sponsor Links

  • Sports Card Forumopens in a new window
  • Buying Vintage Sports Cardsopens in a new window
  • Game Used Jerseysopens in a new window
  • Championship Rings For Saleopens in a new window
  • Vintage Basketball Cardsopens in a new window
  • NBA Signed Itemsopens in a new window
  • Autographed Baseballsopens in a new window
  • NASCAR Autographsopens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Baseball Cardsopens in a new window
  • Player Picturesopens in a new window
  • Vintage Football Cardsopens in a new window
  • Sports Collectors Storeopens in a new window

Pages

Ending on eBay Soon
  • Baseball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Basketball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Football Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Hockey Card Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay Ending Soon
Top 100 on Ebay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Card Auctions
  • Top Authenticated Vintage Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
Most Watched on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Graded Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Tom Brady Card Auctions on eBay
  • 50 Hottest Hobby Boxes at Auction on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Golf Trading Cards on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Wrestling Trading Cards on eBay
  • 75 Most Watched Bowman Chrome Cards
  • Most Popular Bobbleheads on eBay
  • Most Watched 1/1 Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Basketball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Complete Baseball Card Sets at Auction on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Rookie Card Auctions
  • Most Watched Goudey Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Hockey Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Racing Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Soccer Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Autographs on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Jerseys on eBay
  • Most Watched Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
  • Most Watched Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay
  • Hottest Panini National Treasures Cards on eBay
  • Hottest PSA 10 Cards for Sale on eBay
  • What’s Hot on eBay
Sports Memorabilia
  • Sports Card Bargain Bin
  • Sports Memorabilia Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
About Sports Collectors Daily
  • Advertise with SC Daily
  • Contact Us
  • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
Sell Your Cards
  • What’s It Worth
  • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?

Copyright © 2023 SportsCollectorsDaily.com | Web Design by Wickam Groupopens in a new window