Published 01/26/2023, 10:45 AM EST
Rookie Cards, also known as trading cards, are cards that honor athletes after they have participated in what is considered to be the most distinguished level of competition within their sport. Collectors seek these cards to commemorate the careers of their favorite athletes. It is no surprise that rookie cards featuring Wayne Gretzky would be extremely sought after. But even then, one would be surprised to know how much they actually sell for. But one would be even more surprised to know Gretzky’s revelation about his rookie cards.
Wayne Gretzky appeared on the show with Conan O’Brien, and Conan was blown away by the kind of money Gretzky’s rookie cards attracted.
Wayne Gretzky astonished Conan O’Brien over his rookie cards
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Gretzky and O’Brien got to talking about the former’s rookie cards. Conan O’Brien exclaimed that one of Gretzky’s rookie cards sold for an insane $465,000. O’Brien said, “Your rookie card just sold for $465,000. That’s unbelievable. Unbelievable.” It is unbelievable, but that is just how much people love the Great One.
But what Gretzky revealed after this was beyond the believable. He said, “I don’t know what’s more unbelievable, that they did that or that I don’t have any of them.” Conan O’Brien was stunned by this revelation and proceeded to mockingly call Wayne Gretzky an idiot, which Gretzky took in stride. For Gretzky, these cards are like spokes in his bike. Well, that’s a $35 million worth of bike spokes Gretzky’s got, which was what O’Brien estimated.
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The kind of fame and reverence that Gretzky’s rookie cards have gathered is inconceivable and the most obvious thing at the same time. In fact, his O-Pee-Chee rookie card broke all records.
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Gretzky has the most expensive rookie card in hockey
When his rookie card sold for $465,000 in 2016, it was a record breaker. Then once again, the same card sold for an astronomical amount of $1.29 million in December 2020. However, that was not the end. It once again sold for $3.75 million in 2021. This was also a record-breaking figure. In fact, Wayne Gretzky’s card is the highest-valued card in hockey.
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This card is a 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card and Heritage Auctions last sold it. After the sale, Gretzky reached the stratosphere where names such as Mickey Mantle, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan reside. And who else deserves this honor than the G.O.A.T of ice hockey himself? Would you spend millions of dollars on a Wayne Gretzky rookie card?
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