15 Most Valuable Hockey Cards of All-Time (2024)

15 Most Valuable Hockey Cards of All-Time

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    Although the sports trading card market isn't asprofitableas it once was, there are still many vintage hockey cards that hold a high value.

    Whether it's a vintage Bobby Orr card from the 1960s, a Wayne Gretzky card from the 1980s, or aSidney Crosby one from this past decade, having a rookie card of a star player is quite valuable.

    Let's look at the 10 most valuable hockey cards of all-time, based on monetary value andpopularity.

    Photos not credited are from my own personal collection.

15) Patrick Roy: 1986-87 Topps

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    This 1986-87 Topps rookie card of Patrick Roy is valued at over $300 with a high grade.

14) Terry Sawchuk: 1951-52 Parkhurst

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    Terry Sawchuk is one of the greatest goalies ever, and a Detroit Red Wings legend.

    A highly graded card of his 1951-52 Parkhurst rookie is worth over $1,500.

13) Alexander Ovechkin: 2003-04 SP Authentic

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    Thisautorookie card from SP Authentic is one of Alexander Ovechkin's most sought after cards, and with a high grade can be bought for over $2,000.

12) Sidney Crosby: 2005 SP Authentic

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    This auto/patch rookie of current Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby is worth at least $5,000 with a high grade.

11) Bobby Orr: 1966 Topps USA

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    Bobby Orr is the greatest hockey player ever, and his 1966 Topps rookie card is a limited edition card and is worth about $10,000 graded.

10) Guy LaFleur: 1971 O-Pee-Chee

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    Hockey Hall of Famer and Canadiens legend Guy LaFleur's first ever rookie card came in 1971, and was worth over $12,000 with a perfect or near perfect grade.

    Image taken fromHubPages.

9) Jacques Plante: 1955 Quaker Oats

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    This card of Montreal Canadiens legend Jacques Plante is worth about $12,000. Finding one is difficult because they were distributed in cereal boxes and were easily ruined.

    Image taken fromHubPages.

8) Georges Vezina: 1911 Imperial Tobacco

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    Georges Vezina is the man the Vezina Trophy is named after, which is the award annually given to the NHL's most outstanding goaltender.

    Like baseball cards at the time, hockey cards in the 1910s were distributed as tobacco cards, and Vezina's from 1911 values at about $13,000.

    Image taken fromHubPages.

7) Bobby Hull: 1958 Topps

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    Bobby Hull's rookie card in 1958 for the Chicago Blackhawks is his most expensive card, and with a high grade values about $13,000.

    Image taken fromHubPages.

6) Gordie Howe: 1954 Topps

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    Although his rookie card came a few years earlier, Gordie Howe's 1954 Topps card values at about $13,000 with a high grade.

    Image taken fromHubPages.

5) Mario Lemieux: 1985 Topps

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    Mario Lemieux is one of the greatest players of all-time, and his 1985 Topps rookie card is worth over $14,000 at a high grade.

4) Maurice Richard: 1990-91 OPC Premier

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    Maurice Richard led the Montreal Canadiens to multiple Stanley Cup titles and his 1951 Parkhurst rookie card is worth over $15,000 if highly graded.

    Image taken fromPSA.

3) Gordie Howe: 1951 Parkhurst

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    This Gordie Howe rookie card from 1951 is smaller than most cards and is incredibly difficult to find, and find in a good condition.

    Locating one in decent shape can be worth around $15,000.

    Image taken fromHubPages.

2) Bobby Orr: 1966 Topps

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    As often is the case, some rookie cards are worth more than other sets for some reason, and in Bobby Orr's case, his 1966 Topps rookie is the most valuable.

    At a high grade, this card is worth over $40,000.

    Image taken fromHubPages.

1) Wayne Gretzky: 1979 O-Pee-Chee

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    Wayne Gretzky is arguably the best hockey player ever, and his 1979 O-Pee-Chee rookie card has normally been the highest valued hockey card out there. One with a high grade can fetch about $50,000.

15 Most Valuable Hockey Cards of All-Time (2024)

FAQs

What is the most valuable hockey card of all time? ›

Estimated Value in PSA 10 Gem Mint Condition: $465,000

One of two mainstream Wayne Gretzky rookie cards, the 1979 O-Pee-Chee Gretzky tops them all as the most valuable hockey card of all-time.

Which hockey cards are worth money? ›

Most Valuable Hockey Trading Cards to Hunt Down
Most Valuable Hockey Trading CardsRecord Sales Price
1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card #18$3.75 million
1979 Topps Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card #18$1.2 million
1951 Parkhurst Gordie Howe Rookie Card #66$210,330
2015 Upper Deck Connor McDavid Rookie Card #197$135,811.20
2 more rows
Jan 2, 2023

How do I know if my hockey cards are worth money? ›

The Three Main Factors That Affect Your Hockey Card's Value
  • Condition and Grading. One of the most important factors for a card's worth is its condition. ...
  • Rarity and Scarcity Value. Obviously, rarer cards will be more valuable. ...
  • The Subject's Accomplishments and Popularity.
Dec 9, 2016

Are hockey cards from the 90s worth anything? ›

Supply has long since caught up with demand. Pallets of unopened cases and shoeboxes of childhood collections are common. If you're looking to sell your late-80s and early-90s cards, you're not alone. The cards are worthless because nobody's buying.

What is the rarest sports card in history? ›

This is a list of the highest known prices paid for sports cards. The current record price is the US$12.6 million paid for a 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card (Topps; #311) on August 28, 2022, breaking all previous records.

What hockey cards are hot right now? ›

Check out the top 10 cards to collect over the course of this season:
  1. Owen Power (2022-23 UD Series 1 Young Guns #228)
  2. Matty Beniers (2022-23 UD Series 1 #213) ...
  3. Cole Perfetti (2021-22 UD Series 2 Young Guns #466) ...
  4. Connor McDavid (2022-23 UD Series 1 Freestyles insert) ...
  5. Trevor Zegras (2021-22 UD Series 1 Young Guns #232) ...
Oct 13, 2022

Is a Wayne Gretzky card worth anything? ›

Wayne Gretzky was born in 01/26/1961 in Brantford. There are currently 7006 Cards of Wayne Gretzky in our Database including 0 rookie Cards and 4781 variations Cards. The most valuable Card of Wayne Gretzky is currently 1979 Topps #18 Wayne Gretzky PSA 10 by Topps from 1979 with a worth of approx. $1200000.0.

How much is a Wayne Gretzky card worth? ›

Wayne Gretzky Hockey Trading Card Values
1979 O-Pee-Chee #18 Wayne Gretzky$750.21$301.75
1979 Topps #18 Wayne Gretzky$400.53
1980 O-Pee-Chee #3 Wayne Gretzky$19.53$12.53
1980 O-Pee-Chee #87 Wayne Gretzky$28.03$18.53
1980 O-Pee-Chee #182 Wayne Gretzky$6.32$11.53
133 more rows

Are hockey cards going up in value? ›

Whether your collection goes back over 50 years, or you managed to get a Connor McDavid Rookie card 50 days ago, it's a wise move to continue to hang onto them because they continue to rise in price, especially when it comes to the older cards.

Is there an app to scan hockey cards? ›

CollX lets you scan the front and back of a card to reveal its value instantly. It works with all kinds of cards: baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer and wrestling sports cards. It also scans Pokémon, Magic, and Yu-Gi-Oh cards, too.

Are hockey cards a good investment? ›

Investing in Hockey Cards. Hockey cards are almost exclusively collector sets. Generally, hockey cards are not worth investing in with one exception; when a franchise-level talent rookie card is available, such as Connor McDavid or Austin Matthews.

How do I find out what my sports cards are worth? ›

To find the value of sports cards, there is no better source than eBay. eBay will show you exactly what a particular card in a variety of conditions has recently sold for.

Is there an app to see how much cards are worth? ›

Scan a card with the CardCastle app to instantly price check it! Know how much your cards are worth and track the value of your collection over time to make better buying, selling and trading decisions.

What is a Mario Lemieux rookie card worth? ›

Estimated Value: Here is a look at estimated values of his Topps rookies graded by PSA in different conditions: PSA 10: $1,800. PSA 9: $200. PSA 8: $100.

How much is a rookie Mark McGwire card worth? ›

Overall about 1061 Cards of Mark McGwire have been traded in the last 30 days on ebay. The average price was $13.87. The price range was from $0.01 for 2001 Fleer Futures Hot Commodities #1HC Mark McGwire by Fleer Futures from 2001 to $2100.0 for 1985 Topps #401 Mark McGwire PSA 10 by Topps from 1985.

What are the top 10 most valuable sports cards? ›

Top 10 sports cards of all time
  • $3,936,000 Mike Trout 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Autographed Superfractor.
  • $3,751,500 Honus Wagner 1909-11 T206.
  • Also See: 75 years later, Jackie Robinson cards, memorabilia attracting big dollars.
  • $3,750,000 Wayne Gretzky 1979 O-Pee-Chee.
  • $3,700,000 Honus Wagner 1909-11 T206.
Aug 29, 2022

What sports cards sell the most money? ›

Most Expensive Sports Trading Card Sales to Date
PlayerCardPrice
1. Mickey Mantle1952 Topps SGC 9.5$12.6 million
2. Honus WagnerT206 SGC 2$7.25 million
3. Honus WagnerT206 SGC 3$6.6 million
T4. Mickey Mantle1952 Topps PSA 9$5.2 million
6 more rows

Which sports cards to invest in? ›

The 5 Best Sports Cards to Invest In. These are the five sports cards that deserve a spot in your investment portfolio: 2019 Lionel Messi Topps Living Champions League Card. 2021 Bowman Draft Marcelo Mayer Card.

Should I grade my hockey cards? ›

The Answer. You should ONLY get your cards graded IF it will increase the value or make the sale of the card(s) easier. You should NOT get your card graded just because you THINK it will improve the value. Grading cards costs money.

What is the most expensive hockey card on eBay? ›

If you don't believe me, check out the $1-million+ Wayne Gretzky rookie card that set records late in 2020.

Who is the best rookie in the NHL? ›

Matty Beniers

What is the rarest Gretzky card? ›

Coming in the number 1 spot of the most valuable hockey cards is the iconic 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky Rookie.

What is the most expensive Gretzky card? ›

A mint condition Wayne Gretzky rookie card that was put up for auction this week has set the record for the most-expensive hockey card in the world. The cart, a gem mint condition 1979 O-Pee-Chee Gretzky rookie card, was up for online auction through Heritage Auctions and sold for $1.29-million.

How much is a Patrick Roy card worth? ›

Overall about 334 Cards of Patrick Roy have been traded in the last 30 days on ebay. The average price was $45.39. The price range was from $0.17 for 1992 Stadium Club #252 Patrick Roy by Stadium Club from 1992 to $869.99 for 1986 O Pee Chee #53 Patrick Roy PSA 9 by O Pee Chee from 1986.

What is Sidney Crosby rookie card worth? ›

2020 Upper Deck #391 Sidney Crosby by Upper Deck from 2020 with a value of approx. $3.95. 2005 Upper Deck Rookie Class Box Set #1 Sidney Crosby by Upper Deck Rookie Class Box Set from 2005 with a value of approx. $35.15.

Are 1991 hockey cards worth anything? ›

All 1991 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Cards

The most valuable card of 1991 O-Pee-Chee is currently 1991 O-Pee-Chee #40 Jaromir Jagr PSA 10 with a worth of approx. $73.00. The most traded card of 1991 O-Pee-Chee in the past 30 days on eBay was for 1991 O-Pee-Chee #2 Guy Lafleur with 3 trades and an average price of $0.67.

What card did Gretzky buy? ›

In 1991, National Hockey League player Wayne Gretzky purchased a mint condition 1909 T206 Honus Wager baseball card, with a Piedmont cigarette brand back, at a Sotheby's auction. The card became known as the "Gretzky T206 Wagner" to the public.

What is the best hockey card grading company? ›

1. Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) In the current state of the hobby, PSA is undoubtedly number one on the list of the top trading card grading companies.

Can you make money selling hockey cards? ›

If the card receives a high grade, you'll be able to sell it for profit. It is a great method for making a profit on sports cards. Most collectors prefer to buy graded cards because the quality of the card is certified by a professional grading service.

Are Nolan Ryan cards worth anything? ›

The value of Nolan Ryan Baseball-Cards has been decreasing for about -0.78% in the past 30 days and decreasing for about -20.48% in the past year. The most traded Card of Nolan Ryan in the past 30 days on ebay was for 1979 Topps #115 Nolan Ryan by Topps from 1979 with an average price of $9.51.

How much does it cost to get cards graded? ›

PSA Grading Cost Per Card

Value Bulk: $19/card. Value: $25/card. Value Plus: $40/card. Regular: $75/card.

How to get free sports cards? ›

Perhaps the most reliable way to get free cards is through No Purchase Necessary or “NPN” offers that are offered by major card companies. Basically, these offers involve entering sweepstakes held by the company for each product they release. If you win the sweepstakes, you will receive one card at hobby box odds.

What are the best cards to collect? ›

Collecting sports cards has become a mania; 13 cards have sold for over $1 million.
...
What are the best Sports Cards to invest in 2022?
  • Mickey Mantle cards. ...
  • Honus Wagner cards. ...
  • Luka Dončić rookie cards. ...
  • Mike Trout cards. ...
  • Ronald Acuna Jr.

Can you scan sports cards for value? ›

CollX (pronounced “collects”) answers the question every collector has: “What's it worth?” The app lets you scan any baseball, football, basketball, hockey, soccer, or wrestling card and instantly identify it and get the average market value.

Is it worth selling old sports cards? ›

Most vintage cards have some value, even if they're not in the best of condition. Modern cards, especially those printed from the late 1980's through the early 1990's, suffer from mass production and hoarding and do not have much value.

What sports cards from the 90s are worth money? ›

Sports Cards: 10 Most Valuable Baseball Rookie Cards of the 1990s
  1. 1993 SP #279 Derek Jeter.
  2. 1997 Ultra #518 David Arias. ...
  3. 1994 SP #15 Alex Rodriguez. ...
  4. 1992 Bowman #302 Mariano Rivera. ...
  5. 1997 Bowman Chrome #182 Adrian Beltre. ...
  6. 1992 Fleer Update #U-92 Mike Piazza. ...
  7. 7. 1995 Bowman's Best #2 Vladimir Guerrero. ...
Apr 19, 2022

What old cards are worth money? ›

Most expensive baseball cards in history
  • 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle: $12.6 million.
  • 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner: $7.25 million.
  • 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth: $4.212 million.
  • 2009 Bowman Draft Mike Trout: $3.936 million.
  • 1916 Sporting News Babe Ruth: $2.46 million.
  • 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente: $1.107 million.
Aug 29, 2022

What baseball cards from the 80's and 90's are worth money? ›

Most Valuable Baseball Cards of the 80's and 90's: Our Favorites
  • Derek Jeter 1993 Upper Deck.
  • Rare Baseball Card Worth Money: 1987 Donruss Barry Bonds Error.
  • 1993 Finest Refractor Ken Griffey.
  • 1990 Topps Frank Thomas No Name.
  • 1988 Craig Biggio Scored Traded.
  • 1985 Topps Tiffany Mark McGwire.
  • 1993 SP FOIL Derek Jeter.
Feb 8, 2023

How much is a Wayne Gretzky rookie card signed? ›

A Wayne Gretzky card from his rookie season with the Edmonton Oilers sold for $3.75 million in a private transaction, Heritage Auctions announced Thursday, more than doubling the previous record for a hockey card.

How much is a PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky rookie card worth? ›

1.2 million dollars. If you think about spending a million dollars on one thing, what would it be? Well, someone has spent over a million dollars on a PSA 10 1979 Topps Wayne Gretzky rookie card.

What is the rarest rookie card? ›

1. Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps. It's believed there are only three PSA 10 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie cards that exist, making it the most valuable rookie card of all time, in any sport.

How much is a Ken Griffey Jr rookie card worth? ›

Over 4,000 of the cards submitted are rated 10 and about 29,000 have a rating of 9. That's why it's surprising that this card was fetching $15,000 in early 2022. The most expensive Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is one of these Upper Deck cards—an autographed card that sold for $30,400 in July 2021.

Which Ken Griffey Jr cards are worth money? ›

  • 1989 Bowman (Tiffany) #220. Credit: eBay. Value: $13,756. By far, the most valuable of Griffey Jr. ...
  • 1989 Topps Traded (Tiffany) #41T. Credit: eBay. Value: $3,668. ...
  • 1989 Fleer Glossy #548. Credit: eBay. Value: $3,606. ...
  • 1989 Upper Deck #1. Credit: eBay. Value: $1,763. ...
  • 1989 Donruss Rated Rookie. Credit: eBay. Value: $320.

Are Darryl Strawberry cards worth anything? ›

There are currently 3962 Cards of Darryl Strawberry in our Database including 1 rookie Cards and 3333 variations Cards. The most valuable Card of Darryl Strawberry is currently 1984 Topps Tiffany #182 Darryl Strawberry PSA 10 by Topps from 1984 with a worth of approx. $1200.0.

How much money is a Wayne Gretzky card worth? ›

Overall about 1742 Cards of Wayne Gretzky have been traded in the last 30 days on ebay. The average price was $142.47. The price range was from $0.19 for 1990 Upper Deck Holograms/Stickers #NNO Wayne Gretzky by Upper Deck from 1990 to $14500.0 for 1979 O-Pee-Chee #18 Wayne Gretzky PSA 8 by O-Pee-Chee from 1979.

How much did the Wayne Gretzky card sell for? ›

Becoming the first million dollar hockey card, of course, is just one more high mark for Gretzky, who holds 61 NHL records. "We're very excited and glad it got to (almost) $1.3 million," Ivy said. "It very easily could have sold for $1.1 million and it just as easily could have sold for $1.6 million.

What is the highest price paid for a Gretzky rookie card? ›

A mint condition Wayne Gretzky rookie card that was put up for auction this week has set the record for the most-expensive hockey card in the world. The cart, a gem mint condition 1979 O-Pee-Chee Gretzky rookie card, was up for online auction through Heritage Auctions and sold for $1.29-million.

How much is a Tom Brady rookie card worth? ›

As such, Brady will be a first-ballot inductee and enshrined to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 2027. The most expensive Tom Brady rookie card—the 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Tom Brady Autograph Rookie Card #144—sold for $3,107,132.40 in 2021.

How much is a Crosby rookie card worth? ›

This auto/patch rookie of current Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby is worth at least $5,000 with a high grade.

How much is Ovechkin rookie card worth? ›

In the world of sports trading cards, when you're that good and that legendary, the prices of your cards will reflect that. The Hockey Cards Gongshow Podcast put together the top five, big money sellers when it comes to Ovechkin cards. The total fetched at auction for all five is just a shade under $325,000.

How much did Mac Jones rookie card sell for? ›

Top Mac Jones Rookie Cards

The most valuable Card of Mac Jones is currently 2021 Panini XR Autographs #114 Mac Jones /10 by Panini XR from 2021 with a worth of approx. $3500.0.

How much is Michael Jordan rookie card worth? ›

Michael Jordan Rookie Card Value
CardPSA 7PSA 9
1985 Nike$900$2,700
1985 Prism Jewel$7,000$50000
1986 Fleer$6,000$21,000
'86 Fleer Sticker$1,000$5,000
3 more rows

What are the oldest hockey cards? ›

The first hockey cards were included in cigarette packages from 1910 to 1913, manufactured by Imperial Tobacco Canada for the inaugural NHL season. The 1910 set had a total of 36 cards, each one featuring an illustration of a player.

What baseball card sells for 7 million? ›

One of the world's rarest baseball cards was sold for an extraordinary price last week. The famous T206 Honus Wagner sold for a record $7.25 million in a private sale facilitated by Goldin Auctions, the company said Thursday.

How much is a PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky? ›

1.2 million dollars. If you think about spending a million dollars on one thing, what would it be? Well, someone has spent over a million dollars on a PSA 10 1979 Topps Wayne Gretzky rookie card.

How many Honus Wagner cards are left? ›

But his greatness as a player is not the primary reason his T206 card, which was issued in 1909 by the American Tobacco Company, is considered so valuable. There are thought to be only 50-60 copies of the card in existence, making it one of the rarest sports cards in the world.

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