PSA 10 1979-80 Topps Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card Sells for $200,000
It has been a big month for Wayne Gretzky rookie cards. First, the lone PSA 10 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie went for $465,000 during Goldin Auctions’ 2016 Premium Live Auction at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City. Now a PSA 10 Topps Wayne Gretzky rookie reached $200,976 in Memory Lane Inc’s Summer Vintage Rarities 2016 sale.
The card is just one of two copies of the card to achieve Gem-Mint 10 status from PSA. The blue borders make it extremely tough on edges and corners. Chipping is common for 1979-80 Topps Hockey cards, which helps explain why copies in top condition are so tough to come by.
The card started at $7,500 before 175 bids sent it past the $200,000 mark.
The Topps Wayne Gretzky rookie card isn’t as valuable as same-condition O-Pee-Chee versions, but it’s still in an elite class.
This sale is another example of the hot market for top-condition copies of blue chip cards. It has been happening for a while, particularly with vintage baseball, but the trickle down is being felt in other sports. The relatively young age of the Gretzky rookies make this and the O-Pee-Chee sale even more impressive. In January, 2014, a BGS 9.5 copy of the card sold for $22,000 on eBay.
Comments? Questions? Contact Ryan Cracknell on Twitter @tradercracks.
That card is a true 10 IMO. Nice sale.
1 have that care and the full set in mint condition the #18 card has been in plastic case for 37 years
Topps #18. Wayne Gretzky in mint condition and the full set of that year .Gretzky in plastic edges in tack how do I get it rated too put up for sale
Info on Beckett Grading can be found at: http://www.beckett.com/grading
looking at the price paid and from vague memory of this topic, is there not some issue with very few of the gretzky rookie cards being fit for top mint status due to printing issues? otherwise, these would come out of the woodwork driving down prices. i see near-mint in the low hundreds although i could be wrong.
Hi there, got a Wayne Gretzky rookies card how do I know if it’s the real thing is there marking on the card.and if I want to sell where do I start .
@John — It sounds like you may want to have it graded and encapsulated. Here’s the info for the grading team: http://beckett.com/grading
You can also contact them through this page with any questions: https://www.beckett.com/grading/team
If i have the same Wayne Gretzky rookie card in good condition, how much would it sell for?
i have a topps 1979 wayne gretzky card
how can i find out what it is worth
@dave – You can access the online price guide here (subscription required): https://www.beckett.com/price-guides/hockey
hey i bought a box of tops cards with wayne gretzky in it and there is many ,still in the box mint condition way back then i,m excited , can anyone advise me what to do?
@jeffrey – What are you looking to do?
oh hey i think i have this card shown at the top 1979 or later OMG
I have a 1979 Wayne Gretzky rookie . question is how do i go about selling it ….also what’s it’s worth ?
@Allan – The price guide can be accessed here: https://www.beckett.com/price-guides/hockey
No matter the condition, getting it graded would likely bring you the best return on this particular card. If you want info on Beckett Grading, it can be found here: https://www.beckett.com/grading/
Hey Jeffery, do you know what the price history is on the card? what was it worth 5 and 10 and 20 years ago?
Hi Ryan my name is Rob I live in Woodstock, Ontario Canada I came across your article on a Gretzky rookie cards that went for a crazy price at an auction. I do own 2 complete sets of OPC Gretzky rookie year. The one set I have has a Gretzky rookie card graded by Beckett as 4 I haven’t gotten around to getting Beckett to grade the other rookie card yet. I also have a Gretzky 8 by 5 autographed picture that is graded by Beckett as a 8, the picture is of Wayne when he was a young player doing a Mr. Big Chocolate Bar commercial. My question is should I hang on to my collections or test the market on what I possibly could get for them, I’m in no big rush to get rid of them to be honest at this time they mean more to me because I can honestly say yup I own this stuff and it sorta gives me some bragging rites lol. What would your best advice to me be?
Thanks, Rob
Rob – If it’s not a priority, try setting a price to yourself that you’d be willing to let them go and be content with no matter what the future brings. If you can’t get that price, hold onto them. It’s Gretzky, so his accomplishments are set in stone and written in the record books. That isn’t going to change.
I have the largest collection of wayne Gretzky anyone has ever seen where can you direct me to sale these?
I just started collecting Wayne Gretzky Rookie Cards. Is it the best sports card to buy right now and in the foreseeable future? Should I keep buying them up?
Everything about this card tells me its fake. No yellow dot on the shoulder, no light blue lines down the center of the back. I hope someone didn’t get DUPED.