All trading card collectors rise! If you are in the hockey card collecting niche, perhaps you are in a state of perpetual vigilance as you look out for rare vintage pieces that are worth your time while collecting.
Although some of the cards you might have in your collection are not worth a fortune, you've probably made it a goal to preserve them in mint condition just in case one day their value skyrockets. But how much are other hockey cards trading for right now?
Join us as we unpack some of the most expensive hockey cards, some are not even that popular, but they are still worth a fortune. So without further delay, let's get into the thick of things!
1979 O-Pee-Chee Number 18 Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card
Wayne Gretzky can safely be regarded as the godfather of all the greatest hockey players. His fantastic performance is unmatched, with 10 Art Ross trophies and 60 NHL records. These are just the highlights of the achievements attained by Wayne Gretzky throughout his career.
The 1979 O-Pee-Chee Number 18 Wayne Gretzky rookie card is a rare find, and its value has witnessed explosive growth throughout the years. The GEM - MT10 was recently valued at $1,290,000. Its condition contributes significantly to this hefty price tag.
1966 Topps USA Test Number 35 Bobby Orr Rookie Card
Another player featured in the world's hockey history records is Bobby Orr. The 1966 Topps USA Test Number 35 Bobby Orr rookie card ranks as one of the most valuable hockey cards due to its rarity and sentimental value.
The card got released in significantly small batches, and finding one of these in pristine condition is way more challenging than it might seem. Nevertheless, Bobby Orr's card was so valuable that the PSA 9 version was sold for $204,000.
1958 Topps Number 66 Bobby Hull Rookie Card
Bobby Hull is known as one of the best hockey players that advocated for a violence-free sporting landscape. At the same time, Bobby was not just merely a peacemaker but also contributed significantly to his team's successes. He held some prestigious titles and made great strides in proving his worth in the rink.
Some of the titles he held were winning three Art Ross trophies and being a two-time winner of the Hart Memorial trophy. The 1958 Topps Number 66 Bobby Hull Rookie Card is the only recognized rookie card by the Golden Jet. The Mint 9 PSA value reaches $175,000 with only two cards of this condition.
1911 C55 Imperial Tobacco Number 38 Georges Vezina Rookie Card
The 1911 C55 Imperial Tobacco Number 38 Georges Vezina Rookie card has that cool, antiquated look. Georges's image got bordered by upside-down hockey sticks acting like a frame. This player has a significant legacy since the season's best goalie gets presented with the Vezina Trophy.
Since this card features such an iconic hockey player and given its age, it is no wonder it ranks as one of the most expensive hockey cards. An NM - MT8 card has a PSA value of $115,000. Although this card is not valued as highly as the Wayne Gretzky rookie card, it holds high sentimental value and is the best memorabilia of the hockey landscape back then.
1951 Parkhurst Number 66 Gordie Howe Rookie Card
Do you know who the top dog was before Wayne Gretzky came around?
Yes, you got that right!
Gordie Howe was a record-breaking player with as many titles as you can shake a stick at as a right-wing. But, of course, that is no surprise because Gordie's life revolved around hockey since he made his debut at the tender age of 18.
The 1951 Parkhurst Number 66 Gordie Howe Rookie Card holds as much sentimental value as the Wayne Gretzky rookie card, if not more. However, in terms of pricing, this card came short by a long shot—the NM-MT 8 condition card sold for $56,600, according to the most recent price recorded.
1923 V145-1 Number 25 Bert Corbeau Rookie Card
If you are looking for a more vintage rookie card dating back to the early 1900s, Bert Corbeau's V145-1 Number 25 rookie card is as good as it gets. But unfortunately, this card was on auction for $21,000. But what makes this card special?
For one, the fact that the 1923 V145-1 Number 25 Bert Corbeau Rookie Card is a pre-war card that is just an addition to its rarity; there might be less than 3 of these cards worldwide.
Secondly, these cards can't be authenticated and graded by the PSA since they got canceled, which restricts the prospects of more being added to circulation even though they might be in better condition.
2005 The Cup Number 180 Sidney Crosby Rookie Card Autograph
Regarding the most valuable hockey cards still on auction in 2022, we have the 17-year-old 2005 The Cup Number 180 Sidney Crosby Rookie Card Autograph. Even the visual aesthetic of this card is unique, and it has been hailed as one of the most valuable hockey cards of the modern century.
Sidney Crosby was 17 years old when he made a name for himself in hockey, and as a result of Sidney's fame and the rarity of this card with an autograph, no less, some experts are expecting this card to sell for between $50,000 to $75,000.
1912 C57 Number 1 Georges Vezina
Zooming back to Georges Vezina's antique expensive hockey cards, the C57 Number 1 from back in 1912 comes at a pretty hefty price. However, the C57 series is one of the most valuable hockey cards you can use. For example, the number 1 card has been valued at $35,955 by the PSA.
This value depends on the card's condition, but they are valuable regardless. You can find the complete set on some auction sites, but not in pristine mint condition. Having the full collection could set you up to be on the path of having the most expensive hockey cards as a collector.
1923 V145-1 Number 15 Howie Morenz Rookie Card
Howie Morenz lived and died for the game. After a leg injury in his final game, he passed away due to blood clots caused by his wound. A quick snapshot of his gameplay before this unfortunate incident portrays Howie as a proactive player with 270 goals during the regular season.
The Mint 9 card got valued at approximately $25,000. However, its lower grades are available for as little as $2,205, according to the most recent price.
Perhaps soon, the Mint 9 might be sold at an open auction at a significantly higher rate than PSA's valuation due to the heritage this card has.
1953 Parkhurst Number 27 Jean Beliveau Rookie Card
Collectors of the 1953 Parkhurst rookie card collection know the challenges facing the sharp-cornered Number 27 card featuring Jean Beliveau. One of these challenges is finding this card with good toning. Hobbyists tend to frown upon the pale toning as it is not visually alluring enough for them.
Be that as it may, the 1953 Parkhurst Number 27 Jean Beliveau rookie card's most recent recorded price was a valuation of $16,730.
1924 C144 Champ's Cigarettes Howie Morenz Card
Let's backtrack a bit to Howie Morenz, but this time we look at his 1924 C144 Champ's Cigarettes Howie Morenz Card. The card is also a pre-war card for collectors that like these niche cards.
This particular card's availability is relatively rare compared to other cards in the C144 Champ's Cigarettes collection. Also, since it is antique, if it gets found in pristine condition, it is well worth over $7,000 to buyers who genuinely appreciate this sport's heritage or collectors who would like to complete their collection.
1951 Parkhurst Number 4 Maurice Richard Rookie Card
Maurice Richard, also known as "The Rocket," is well known for his speed and ability to see the goalposts. He was one of the top goal scorers of the mid-1900s, and there is no doubt that he was a fantastic player—his 1951 Parkhurst Number rookie card was valued up to $57,600, according to the most recent price.
The price was for the Mint 9 condition grade and was significantly more than how PSA valued its worth.
1923 V145-1 Number 19 Georges Vezina Card
Georges Vezina truly revolutionized the hockey industry, and it is no surprise that he has so many expensive cards under his name. Although the most recent price, the 1923 V145-1 Number 19 Georges Vezina Card, was valued at $3,199 for an EX-MT 6 grade card, it can significantly cost more than that for higher grades.
For example, the PSA valued a Mint 9 1923 V145-1 Number 19 Georges Vezina Card at $16,000. If that card were to get unveiled at an auction, the price would skyrocket and potentially double the valued price.
1910 C56 Number 12 Art Ross Rookie Card
The one and only Art Ross not only became the best player and coach of his era but also has a trophy that got awarded in his name in the decades that followed to some of the finest hockey players in NHL history. Art Ross went down in the record books due to victorious streaks he spearheaded both as a team player and a coach.
With such great heritage, the 1910 C56 Number 12 Art Ross rookie card seems slightly underpriced at $25,000. The PSA valued the Mint 9 C56 Number 12 Art Ross card at this value, but it has the potential of selling significantly higher.
FAQs
Which hockey cards are worth money?
Regarding hockey card values, rookie cards fetch a higher price than others. If you are looking for a valuable hockey card, search within the realm of rookie cards since these are relatively much harder to find. As years go by, some cards get sold at a steep price with some memorabilia and an autograph from the player.
What is the most expensive sports card?
The most expensive sports card sold for $6.606 million and was of Honus Wagner. That was a baseball card from way back in 1909. This sale broke all records for the most expensive sports card ever sold. It is amongst a collection of baseball cards called the T-206 series, which also contains some other highly valuable cards.
What sports cards are rare?
Some of the rarest sports cards are under the rookie card category. However, other cards are rare, considering when they were initially released and any distinctive features differentiating them from any other card from that era. At the same time, the condition of a sports card can also play a pivotal role in pricing.
What cards are worth collecting?
Having a rookie card of hockey players can be worth your while since it represents some of the first cards released for each particular player. If the player makes it big-time, your card's value will certainly increase. You can also search for some cards sold on platforms like eBay that have distinct features such as autographs or memorabilia.
So, Now You Know Which Hockey Cards are the Most Expensive to Collect and Buy
From O-Pee-Chee card collections to other valuable rookie cards, you stand to have historical memorabilia of players that reshaped hockey as you know it by owning these valuable and expensive rookie cards.
At the same time, these cards could be an excellent investment since, over time, they can significantly value higher as long as they are in pristine condition. Whatever your reason may be for buying these cards, preserve them well, as they symbolize deep respect for the players that once wore those jerseys.
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From a 1979 O-Pee-Chee Number 18 Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card to a 1923 V145-1 Number 19 Georges Vezina Card, which hockey card would you choose?
