Wayne Gretzky rookie trading card sells for record US$465,000
You might want to consider getting into the hockey trading card business after a record was set for a mint-perfect collectible of The Great One.
A Wayne Gretzky memorabilia collector paid US$465,000 ($615,000 Canadian) for the 1979 O-Pee-Chee rookie card at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City.
Thursday night’s sale eclipsed the previous record of $94,000, which was set for the same card when it was sold five years ago, said Ken Goldin, CEO of U.S.-based auction house, Goldin Auctions.
“We have a very hot trading card market right now,” Goldin said.
“People are really looking at trading cards as alternate investments because they are collectible, they are limited and they are a lot more fun then owning a stock or a bond.
“It’s pretty exciting for everyone who owns a Wayne Gretzky card and I can tell you we are getting emails and calls from all over right now asking if their card is worth $465,000.”
The sad news for most is that probably isn’t going to be the case.
Out of 1,500 versions of the rookie card that have been graded and authenticated, this is the only one to get a Gem Mint 10 rating, the highest rating possible.
“The only way that this record will be exceeded is if this exact card re-sells at a later date,” he said.
“A sale price like this is going to bring a lot of people into hockey card collecting and people are going to look at this and say, if the best rookie card for the greatest player of all time in the best condition can sell for this much, what is the best rookie card for Bobbie Orr now worth, or Gordie Howe, or Mario Lemieux?”
Gretzky, 55, retired as a player in 1999.