Jun 14, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Canadian former ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky is present for the game between Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers in game five of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Jun 14, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Canadian former ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky is present for the game between Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers in game five of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
When it comes to hockey's biggest card sales, one name dominates the list. That name is Wayne Gretzky.
The 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card is widely seen as one of the most iconic cards in sports history. The PSA 10 versions have sold for huge sums, with the top sale hitting $3.75 million back in March 2021.
Now, a new auction is making waves in the hobby. And it could set a record of its own.
A PSA 9 Gretzky rookie with an in-person autograph has just surfaced. It is part of the latest Fanatics Collect May Premier Auction.
This card is one of a kind. It is the only PSA 9 Gretzky rookie out there with an autograph on it.
With not much time left in the auction, the latest bid sits at $400,000, including the buyer's premium. If the price holds, it would become the most expensive PSA 9 Gretzky rookie ever sold.
It would also be the highest-selling autographed version of the Gretzky rookie. That is a big deal in a market already dominated by his name.
To understand how rare this card really is, the numbers say it all. According to the PSA Population Report, there are 95 PSA 9 copies, with the previous top sale at $265,200.
Most PSA 9 sales have settled around that $265k mark. So this auction is already smashing through that ceiling.
Autographed copies are even harder to come by. There are 847 PSA 8 versions of the Gretzky rookie, and only 7 of those have been graded with an autograph.
That makes this PSA 9 with an auto a true unicorn. It mixes top-grade quality with the rarity of a signature.
The big question now is simple. How high will the bidding go before the hammer drops?
How It Stacks Up Against Other Top NHL Sales
The Gretzky rookie has long been the gold standard in hockey cards. Even the previous PSA 9 top sale of $265,200 was higher than what most NHL legends have ever pulled in.
Sidney Crosby's top card sale sits at $210,000. Modern stars like Nathan MacKinnon ($29,283), Auston Matthews ($55,200), Macklin Celebrini ($85,400), and Connor Bedard ($123,220) all fall well short.
For a long time, only a few cards ever topped the PSA 9 Gretzky sale. The 1966 Topps Bobby Orr rookie graded BVG Pristine 10 sold for $276,000 in February 2021.
Then 2025 changed things. A BGS 8 Alex Ovechkin The Cup Gold Rainbow Rookie Patch Auto /8 sold for $381,000 in March of that year.
The current No. 2 hockey card sale ever belongs to Connor McDavid. His 2015 Upper Deck The Cup Rookie Patch Auto /99 in PSA 10 went for $405,000 in December 2025.
Now this Gretzky auto is right on McDavid's heels. And whenever the next big McDavid card hits the market, you can bet it will be chasing this number too.
Written by
Sahil Prashar
Edited by
Sahil Prashar