Ice Hockey
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Sport II Olympic Games Sport cards Sport cards 1942-92
See also : Sport II Olympic Games Sport cards Sport cards 1942-92
1972 Team Canada Jersey of Paul Henderson
2010 SOLD for $ 1.27M by Classic Auctions
In 1972 the Soviets claim to be the supreme champions of ice hockey, sometimes threatened by the Czechoslovaks. The Canadians disagree : their professional teams are not allowed in amateur tournaments.
The Soviets accept the challenge. The matches between the two national teams take place in September, the first four in Canada and then four in Moscow, under the name of the Summit Series.
Both teams are at the best level and the eighth game is decisive. The Soviets scored more goals and a draw is enough for them to win the series. A score of 5-5 is therefore favorable to them. The tension is growing. 34 seconds before the end of the match, Paul Henderson scores the winning goal for a final 6-5.
The red and white number 19 jersey worn by Henderson for the four games played in Russia, including of course the triumphant goal, was sold for $ 1.27M by Classic Auctions on June 22, 2010. Here is the link to the post sale article by ESPN.
The Soviets accept the challenge. The matches between the two national teams take place in September, the first four in Canada and then four in Moscow, under the name of the Summit Series.
Both teams are at the best level and the eighth game is decisive. The Soviets scored more goals and a draw is enough for them to win the series. A score of 5-5 is therefore favorable to them. The tension is growing. 34 seconds before the end of the match, Paul Henderson scores the winning goal for a final 6-5.
The red and white number 19 jersey worn by Henderson for the four games played in Russia, including of course the triumphant goal, was sold for $ 1.27M by Classic Auctions on June 22, 2010. Here is the link to the post sale article by ESPN.
1979 GRETZKY Rookie Card
Intro
O-Pee-Chee was a candy maker based in London, Ontario. The company entered the baseball and ice hockey trading cards market in 1934. In 1958 an agreement is concluded with the US company Topps for coordinated operations. Topps cards have an English back and O-Pee-Chee cards are bilingual.
Wayne Gretzky is hockey's super-champion, and his rookie cards published in 1979 by both companies are avidly sought after by collectors. The O-Pee-Chee is the rarest.
The text on the back of the card announces the future great career of the champion : he is "the best prospect to turn professional since Guy Lafleur".
Gretzky had entered the NHL before the legal age of that league for a conjunctural cause. He had played the 1978-1979 season as a professional at 17 with the WHA which was absorbed at the end of that season by the NHL. The WHA had no age limit.
Wayne Gretzky is hockey's super-champion, and his rookie cards published in 1979 by both companies are avidly sought after by collectors. The O-Pee-Chee is the rarest.
The text on the back of the card announces the future great career of the champion : he is "the best prospect to turn professional since Guy Lafleur".
Gretzky had entered the NHL before the legal age of that league for a conjunctural cause. He had played the 1978-1979 season as a professional at 17 with the WHA which was absorbed at the end of that season by the NHL. The WHA had no age limit.
1
O-Pee-Chee Case (full payment awaited)
2024 SOLD for $ 3.7M by Heritage
An O-Pee-Chee ice hockey sealed box just surfaced in Saskatchewan in a nearly immaculate condition. It is marked 1980 on a wall, which would anticipate a price around $ 50K.
It reserved a surprise to the specialists at BBCE in Indiana. It did not contain the 1980-1981 edition as supposed but the 1979-1980 that includes Wayne Gretzky's rookie card, its date referring to the year of the finals and not to the year of the issue.
The case contains 16 boxes of 48 packs each with 10 cards and one sticker per pack, for a total of 7,680 cards and 768 stickers. The whole series has 396 cards, so that about 20 rookie Gretzky cards in pristine condition are expected.
The case was sold for $ 3.7M from a lower estimate of $ 2M by Heritage on February 24, 2024, lot 80052. Please watch the video shared the auction house. It was consigned by the original owner who had intended to open it and build sets of cards to sell but simply never followed.
Full payment still awaited on April 13, as reported by Radio Canada.
It reserved a surprise to the specialists at BBCE in Indiana. It did not contain the 1980-1981 edition as supposed but the 1979-1980 that includes Wayne Gretzky's rookie card, its date referring to the year of the finals and not to the year of the issue.
The case contains 16 boxes of 48 packs each with 10 cards and one sticker per pack, for a total of 7,680 cards and 768 stickers. The whole series has 396 cards, so that about 20 rookie Gretzky cards in pristine condition are expected.
The case was sold for $ 3.7M from a lower estimate of $ 2M by Heritage on February 24, 2024, lot 80052. Please watch the video shared the auction house. It was consigned by the original owner who had intended to open it and build sets of cards to sell but simply never followed.
Full payment still awaited on April 13, as reported by Radio Canada.
2
O-Pee-Chee
2020 SOLD for $ 1.3M by Heritage
The population of Wayne Gretzky's rookie cards in PSA supreme grade Gem Mint 10 is two units for the O-Pee-Chee and two for the Topps. Heritage listed one example of each on December 10, 2020.
The O-Pee-Chee gem mint had been sold for $ 94K by SCP on May 1, 2011 and for $ 465K by Goldin on August 4, 2016, lot 25. It was then the only O-Pee-Chee Gretzky rookie card known in that grade. It was sold for $ 1.3M in the 2020 Heritage sale, lot 58423.
On May 27, 2021, Heritage reported that they brokered the other O-Pee-Chee gem mint card for $ 3.75M.
The O-Pee-Chee gem mint had been sold for $ 94K by SCP on May 1, 2011 and for $ 465K by Goldin on August 4, 2016, lot 25. It was then the only O-Pee-Chee Gretzky rookie card known in that grade. It was sold for $ 1.3M in the 2020 Heritage sale, lot 58423.
On May 27, 2021, Heritage reported that they brokered the other O-Pee-Chee gem mint card for $ 3.75M.
3
Topps
2022 SOLD for $ 1.2M by Heritage
Four 1979 rookie cards of Wayne Gretzky have been graded a perfect Gem Mint 10 by PSA, two of them by Topps and two by O-Pee-Chee.
One of the Topps was sold for $ 720K by Heritage on December 10, 2020, lot 58422. The other example was sold for $ 1.2M by Heritage on August 27, 2022, lot 53045.
One of the Topps was sold for $ 720K by Heritage on December 10, 2020, lot 58422. The other example was sold for $ 1.2M by Heritage on August 27, 2022, lot 53045.
4
Topps
2020 SOLD for $ 720K by Heritage
On December 10 and 11, 2020, in addition to the Gem Mint O-Pee-Chee narrated above, Heritage sold three other lots related to the Gretzky rookie card.
The Topps graded Gem Mint by PSA was sold for $ 720K from an estimate of $ 400K, lot 58422.
Two sealed box of 48 packs of 14 1979 O-Pee-Chee cards each were listed. They were sold for $ 250K, lot 58861, and for $ 114K, lot 58446.
A PSA Mint 9 of the same O-Pee-Chee was sold for $ 84K, lot 58747.
The Topps graded Gem Mint by PSA was sold for $ 720K from an estimate of $ 400K, lot 58422.
Two sealed box of 48 packs of 14 1979 O-Pee-Chee cards each were listed. They were sold for $ 250K, lot 58861, and for $ 114K, lot 58446.
A PSA Mint 9 of the same O-Pee-Chee was sold for $ 84K, lot 58747.
GRETZKY Jersey
1
1979 Home jersey
2021 SOLD for $ 620K by Heritage
Aged 16 in 1977, Wayne Gretzky plays with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. He admires Gordie Howe and wants to have like him the number 9. This is not possible : the 9 is already assigned to another player. Gretzky chooses 99 instead.
Gretzky is wearing the 99 throughout his great career. This number becomes the symbol of his success. When he retires as a player in 1999, the 99 is withdrawn in all the clubs of the National Hockey League. His admission in that retirement year into the Hockey Hall of Fame is another unprecedented honor. At that time he held 61 NHL records. For the time being, none has been overcome.
In January 1979 Gretzky turned 18 years old. He signs a 10-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association. A few months later the WHA is terminated and the Oilers are integrated into the NHL. The 1979-1980 season is then Gretzky's rookie year in NHL. Despite his young age, he is already a super-champion. He scored 137 points in that season, as Marcel Dionne also did.
On February 26, 2019, Classic Auctions sold at lot 290 for $ 220K an Oilers' home jersey numbered 99, with on the right shoulder the 1904-1979 crest for the 75th year of the Edmonton city incorporation. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
This white jersey was used regularly, and perhaps even systematically in home games, by Gretzky from October to December 1979. The photo-matchings are convincing.
It displays a considerable game wear, including stitching repairs, stick marks and a larger tear in the stripe on an elbow. It is in its original configuration excepted the nameplate which had been transferred to another jersey in accordance with the practice of the team.
It is believed that no more than two home jerseys were used by a player during the season, and this one is arguably the earlier. At the beginning of that period, Gretzky scored his first assist in NHL and then his first goal.
This piece of history was sold again, for $ 620K by Heritage on February 27, 2021, lot 80136.
Gretzky is wearing the 99 throughout his great career. This number becomes the symbol of his success. When he retires as a player in 1999, the 99 is withdrawn in all the clubs of the National Hockey League. His admission in that retirement year into the Hockey Hall of Fame is another unprecedented honor. At that time he held 61 NHL records. For the time being, none has been overcome.
In January 1979 Gretzky turned 18 years old. He signs a 10-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association. A few months later the WHA is terminated and the Oilers are integrated into the NHL. The 1979-1980 season is then Gretzky's rookie year in NHL. Despite his young age, he is already a super-champion. He scored 137 points in that season, as Marcel Dionne also did.
On February 26, 2019, Classic Auctions sold at lot 290 for $ 220K an Oilers' home jersey numbered 99, with on the right shoulder the 1904-1979 crest for the 75th year of the Edmonton city incorporation. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
This white jersey was used regularly, and perhaps even systematically in home games, by Gretzky from October to December 1979. The photo-matchings are convincing.
It displays a considerable game wear, including stitching repairs, stick marks and a larger tear in the stripe on an elbow. It is in its original configuration excepted the nameplate which had been transferred to another jersey in accordance with the practice of the team.
It is believed that no more than two home jerseys were used by a player during the season, and this one is arguably the earlier. At the beginning of that period, Gretzky scored his first assist in NHL and then his first goal.
This piece of history was sold again, for $ 620K by Heritage on February 27, 2021, lot 80136.
2
1979 Road jersey
2020 SOLD for $ 480K by Sotheby's and Goldin
A game used Oilers jersey signed with a black marker by Gretzky within the 99 figure was sold for $ 480K by Sotheby's and Goldin on December 7, 2020, lot 34, and for $ 325K by Grey Flannel on November 13, 2022, lot 266.
This road jersey is fitted on the shoulders with the Edmonton 1904-1979 patch memorizing the 75th anniversary of the City of Edmonton, which was only used for that season. The jersey was compared with another example on display at Gretzky's Restaurant in Toronto. The features are similar except for the sewn nameplate that is later on the jersey for sale.
Two matchings have been accepted by MeiGray. On one of them the jersey did not have a nameplate, which was the usual practice of the Oilers during the pre-season.
This road jersey is fitted on the shoulders with the Edmonton 1904-1979 patch memorizing the 75th anniversary of the City of Edmonton, which was only used for that season. The jersey was compared with another example on display at Gretzky's Restaurant in Toronto. The features are similar except for the sewn nameplate that is later on the jersey for sale.
Two matchings have been accepted by MeiGray. On one of them the jersey did not have a nameplate, which was the usual practice of the Oilers during the pre-season.
3
1988 Home jersey
2022 SOLD for $ 1.45M by Grey Flannel
Wayne Gretzky went to be rightly considered as the greatest ice hockey player of all time while he was with the Edmonton Oilers. In his ten regular seasons with that team, he always scored more than 100 points, not including the playoffs. He remains the only NHL players with 200 points in a single season, achieving four times this feat with the Oilers.
The Oilers won four Stanley cups with Gretzky as captain. The 1988 finials was the last in that configuration. It was won by the Oilers against the Boston Bruins. It included five events instead of four because the fourth match was disturbed by a power outage in Boston while in a tied score and had to be replayed in Edmonton on May 26.
Due to that incident, Gretzky was able to hold the Stanley cup in his home arena. This event is a turning point of his career as the managers of the team had financial difficulties and revealed to hom on the next days that they would be obliged to sell him. He was transferred to the Los Angeles Kings for the next season in a deal that included $ 15 million in cash. Canadian fans considered his move to the USA as a betrayal.
A home jersey of the Oilers with the number 99, the name of Gretzky and the captain's C patch has been photo matched by MeiGray with that Stanley cup event. It is still bearing uncleaned stains of champagne from the celebration. This piece of ice hockey history was sold for $ 1.45M by Grey Flannel on June 5, 2022, lot 400.
The Oilers won four Stanley cups with Gretzky as captain. The 1988 finials was the last in that configuration. It was won by the Oilers against the Boston Bruins. It included five events instead of four because the fourth match was disturbed by a power outage in Boston while in a tied score and had to be replayed in Edmonton on May 26.
Due to that incident, Gretzky was able to hold the Stanley cup in his home arena. This event is a turning point of his career as the managers of the team had financial difficulties and revealed to hom on the next days that they would be obliged to sell him. He was transferred to the Los Angeles Kings for the next season in a deal that included $ 15 million in cash. Canadian fans considered his move to the USA as a betrayal.
A home jersey of the Oilers with the number 99, the name of Gretzky and the captain's C patch has been photo matched by MeiGray with that Stanley cup event. It is still bearing uncleaned stains of champagne from the celebration. This piece of ice hockey history was sold for $ 1.45M by Grey Flannel on June 5, 2022, lot 400.
4
1999 Last Game jersey
2023 SOLD for $ 720K by Grey Flannel
Wayne Gretzky is unquestionably the greatest hockey player of all time with the stupendous record of 2,857 points during his 21 year NHL career. No other player has reached 2,000.
His farewell game with the New York Rangers, on April, 18, 1999 at Madison Square Garden against the Pittsburgh Penguins, was an event with a big acclaim including a slight change in singing the Canadian anthem. He used four jerseys, one for warmup and one for each period.
He scored his last NHL point in an assist in the second period. The jersey from that phase, autographed and dated on the tail, was given to the manager of the Rangers. It is video matched with the last point. It was sold for $ 720K by Grey Flannel on June 11, 2023, lot 1.
Gretzky's number 99 was league-wide withdrawn by the NHL. He was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in an exceptional waiving of the waiting time. He donated the jersey of the last period to the Hall.
His farewell game with the New York Rangers, on April, 18, 1999 at Madison Square Garden against the Pittsburgh Penguins, was an event with a big acclaim including a slight change in singing the Canadian anthem. He used four jerseys, one for warmup and one for each period.
He scored his last NHL point in an assist in the second period. The jersey from that phase, autographed and dated on the tail, was given to the manager of the Rangers. It is video matched with the last point. It was sold for $ 720K by Grey Flannel on June 11, 2023, lot 1.
Gretzky's number 99 was league-wide withdrawn by the NHL. He was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in an exceptional waiving of the waiting time. He donated the jersey of the last period to the Hall.
1980 Miracle On Ice Jersey of Mike Eruzione
2013 SOLD for $ 660K by Heritage
Often, international politics arise behind sport. When the International Olympic Committee selected Lake Placid for the 1980 Winter Games and Moscow for the Summer Games of the same year, no one could predict the extreme tension which will be generated by the events in Afghanistan.
Winter Games are taking place normally, but already the United States begin to organize a boycott of Moscow. In the stadium, the flagship competition becomes the ice hockey, the fastest of all team sports, where Soviet domination is overwhelming for two decades.
The ice hockey competition gathers twelve national teams, each made up of twenty players. The tournament begins with a first round of two groups of six teams. The United States qualifies painstakingly but they have the best goalkeeper, Jim Craig.
In the final phase, the United States meets the Soviet Union on February 22. Before the match, no one disputes the supremacy of the Soviets, supported by their government. Faced with this experienced team, the USA align young university players who had never played together before the Olympics. It is also the end of an era : the dogma of amateurism, required from the outset by the Olympic Charter, will be repealed in 1981.
Ten minutes before end, the US captain Mike Eruzione gives the advantage to his team by a magnificent shot. Under an incredible fervor of the public, the last ten minutes during which the Americans confirm their domination by a strategy of attack are a piece of sports anthology. The USA wins by a score of 4-3. The ABC broadcast commentator yells into his microphone : "Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles ? YES !". This extraordinary match is then known as the Miracle on Ice.
Eruzione had kept his equipment, which were separated into several lots by Heritage on February 23, 2013. The top lot is the jersey worn by him for the Miracle on Ice. It was sold for $ 660K, lot 80002.
Another jersey was sold for $ 287K. It had been game worn by Eruzione when he was awarded the gold medal. A stick was sold for $ 263K, lot 80001.
Please watch the video shared by Heritage to introduce the sale of the Miracle on Ice, courtesy of ABC Sports.
The Miracle on Ice is not the final event of the tournament. The last two games are played on February 24, 1980. The USSR crushes at 9-2 the Sweden which had achieved a 2-2 draw with the Americans in the first round.
Mistreated by Finland, the young Americans ended by winning this match 4-2 and therefore won the competition. It was a great day for Steve Christoff, who scored the 1-1 tie goal and assisted the final goal scored by Mark Johnson. Each of the twenty US players receives a gold medal inscribed in his name.
In 2006 and 2007 Christoff successively sold through a specialized broker his gold medal and his game worn jersey from the decisive match against Finland. These two lots were listed by Goldin on February 22, 2020. The medal was sold for $ 320K, lot 2 and the jersey for $ 117K, lot 3. The medal was sold for $ 375K on February 4, 2023 by SCP, lot 4.
Mark Wells sold his gold medal of the Miracle on Ice in private sale for a reported amount of $ 40K. Soon after, it was the first of the twenty to appear at auction. It was sold for $ 310K by Heritage on November 5, 2010, lot 81421.
Mark Pavelich had scored two of the four assists in the game against the Soviets, including the winning assist to Mike Eruzione. He was the first to auction his own medal. It was sold for $ 263K by Heritage on May 16, 2014, lot 82422.
Winter Games are taking place normally, but already the United States begin to organize a boycott of Moscow. In the stadium, the flagship competition becomes the ice hockey, the fastest of all team sports, where Soviet domination is overwhelming for two decades.
The ice hockey competition gathers twelve national teams, each made up of twenty players. The tournament begins with a first round of two groups of six teams. The United States qualifies painstakingly but they have the best goalkeeper, Jim Craig.
In the final phase, the United States meets the Soviet Union on February 22. Before the match, no one disputes the supremacy of the Soviets, supported by their government. Faced with this experienced team, the USA align young university players who had never played together before the Olympics. It is also the end of an era : the dogma of amateurism, required from the outset by the Olympic Charter, will be repealed in 1981.
Ten minutes before end, the US captain Mike Eruzione gives the advantage to his team by a magnificent shot. Under an incredible fervor of the public, the last ten minutes during which the Americans confirm their domination by a strategy of attack are a piece of sports anthology. The USA wins by a score of 4-3. The ABC broadcast commentator yells into his microphone : "Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles ? YES !". This extraordinary match is then known as the Miracle on Ice.
Eruzione had kept his equipment, which were separated into several lots by Heritage on February 23, 2013. The top lot is the jersey worn by him for the Miracle on Ice. It was sold for $ 660K, lot 80002.
Another jersey was sold for $ 287K. It had been game worn by Eruzione when he was awarded the gold medal. A stick was sold for $ 263K, lot 80001.
Please watch the video shared by Heritage to introduce the sale of the Miracle on Ice, courtesy of ABC Sports.
The Miracle on Ice is not the final event of the tournament. The last two games are played on February 24, 1980. The USSR crushes at 9-2 the Sweden which had achieved a 2-2 draw with the Americans in the first round.
Mistreated by Finland, the young Americans ended by winning this match 4-2 and therefore won the competition. It was a great day for Steve Christoff, who scored the 1-1 tie goal and assisted the final goal scored by Mark Johnson. Each of the twenty US players receives a gold medal inscribed in his name.
In 2006 and 2007 Christoff successively sold through a specialized broker his gold medal and his game worn jersey from the decisive match against Finland. These two lots were listed by Goldin on February 22, 2020. The medal was sold for $ 320K, lot 2 and the jersey for $ 117K, lot 3. The medal was sold for $ 375K on February 4, 2023 by SCP, lot 4.
Mark Wells sold his gold medal of the Miracle on Ice in private sale for a reported amount of $ 40K. Soon after, it was the first of the twenty to appear at auction. It was sold for $ 310K by Heritage on November 5, 2010, lot 81421.
Mark Pavelich had scored two of the four assists in the game against the Soviets, including the winning assist to Mike Eruzione. He was the first to auction his own medal. It was sold for $ 263K by Heritage on May 16, 2014, lot 82422.
