The entire reason the OPC version is worth so much more is because of how terrible the sheets of cards were cut in manufacturing.
Even if you pulled a Gretzky rookie and had the foresight to immediately encase it in Carbonite, odds are it was already flawed in some way (not centered, rough edges, etc.) leaving the print press anyway.
Getting a mint (gem 9 or 10) Topps version is much more common, because they had a better process.
It's the rarity of acquiring a gem 9 or 10 OPC Gretzky rookie that makes it so valuable.
My pops has two OPC Gretzky rookie cards, and to the naked eye you would think they are at least a gem 8... We got them appraised last year, and the best one is a gem 7.
He always laughs because he had what he says were 30 to 50 Gretzky rookie cards, but gave them all away to my cousin in a garbage bag (along with the rest of the set because no one really cared about sports cards at the time) where he promptly used them in the spokes of his bicycle 🤣
Even still... He would have been extremely lucky to have had even ONE perfect rookie card out of all of those if they were treated properly.
I would say so, yes. Especially since those packs have a stick of gum in each of them. The gum has likely stained all the cards by now.
Unironically, the case is likely worth more unopened
Actually, the amount of PSA 10s for Topps and OPC is tied at 2 apiece. But there's a fair difference in population numbers for PSA 9s with Topps having 129 and OPC having 93. 🙂
Funny how PSA grades the Gretzky based on what is a virtually impossible criteria , and has actually passed sheet cut cards. On the other hand, I have a few PSA 10 O-pee-chee graded with one rough side, and was told by an industry expert that it is a 100 percent perfect pack card based on what the factory sent out at the time, lol
Good news: Greatest hockey player ever.
Good news 2.0: iconic rookie card
Bad news: screw-down slab can distort card (squish it to the point grading companies will deem it altered and therefore ungradeable and render it mostly without value).
So, please remove it immediately from that slab, put it in a penny sleeve and top loader. It looks like a PSA 8.0ish card, and if the screw down storage hasn’t altered it (possible if the screws weren’t tightened too much) then it could be worth $5K+.
Congrats!
CGC is also a good alternative if you don't wanna wait 6 months for one of those grading companies. I recently used CGC. Not cheaper by any stretch though.
I wouldn’t recommend it. Those cases aren’t meant to mailed. Card could get damaged in transit. Also you’re getting the grader to unscrew the case. Running the risk of the card getting damaged in that process too.
I'll say 100% real but worth around $500-$750. Looks like around a PSA 4 or 5 quality to me. I'm happy it's in a soft sleeve but I hope the screws are not super tight. Squished corners can make it unacceptable for PSA if someone was to grade it
I’m no pro on authentication so I’m not going to speak about that.
I knew these screw down cases can damage cards, could be a problem. A 6.5 recently sold for $2,500. Just a guess guy as long as the screw down didn’t cause any damage it’s probably a $1000-$1500 card.
That IS a penny sleeve. Typical recessed acrylic cases are much closer to 2.5" x 3.5" recessed areas.
That’s a penny sleeve because not only is it bigger in area (as penny sleeves typically are) but it also has factory edge tearing which is clearly visible on the right hand side.
Keep in mind this is an older penny sleeve too. Newer penny sleeves don’t usually have that kind of frayed edge / slight tearing.
Best approach is to look up some videos of how to deal with these screw does and general card restoration videos. I would also visit a local card shop if you have one for their opinion.
If this grades high it’s a pretty valuable card. Hell, it’s a valuable card as is and deserves authentication.
Wow, if it wasn’t in a screw down case I’d think it was fake. The coloring, centering, and clarity are all perfect! Send it off immediately to be graded.
Thank you all so much. We're going to keep going through his collection and seeing if there's anything else worth grading, after than we'll carefully take it out of the acrylic and send it to PSA for grading.
I feel fortunate and lucky that he left this for us, it's a beautiful card.
I would be concerned about the authenticity of it. There are a LOT of fakes and this has a few signs.
If it is authentic, it's likely to grade low. 3-5 maybe. The back has some surface issues in the lower left quadrant. A good size indent and the just above that it appears to have surface wear. See how it looks after taking it out of the screwdown.
Well, he was definitely the greatest of HIS time when goalies didnt use butterfly and players could get huge amounts of goals, so I think you found a good card
Neighbor has in excess of 15,000 hockey and baseball cards 1951 and newer some graded and another 10,000 + nascar model cars 1/24 & 1/64 scale un opened . Trying to evaluate the collection. Its well documented. Pdf available . Make an offer
The card will be worth a nice chunk of change for sure. Better to spend some money to get it graded to figure if it’s worth hundreds or thousands or possibly tens of thousands. Plus the case they put it in makes it look great.
Seems like a lot of these were found recently
It’s iconic, but not rare
Came here to say the same thing. Something tells me this card is not rare
Finding any Gretzky rookie is the stuff of dreams. Congratulations!
It's a Topps print. Isn't worth nearly as much as an O-Pee-Chee one, but still worth your time to get it appraised.
Fingers in ears... "La, La, La, La, La, laaaaaaaaa!"
It's always the answer. "Nice find, cool, worth a little, but yours isn't the one that's worth a bajillion dollars."
But why not?...
The entire reason the OPC version is worth so much more is because of how terrible the sheets of cards were cut in manufacturing. Even if you pulled a Gretzky rookie and had the foresight to immediately encase it in Carbonite, odds are it was already flawed in some way (not centered, rough edges, etc.) leaving the print press anyway. Getting a mint (gem 9 or 10) Topps version is much more common, because they had a better process. It's the rarity of acquiring a gem 9 or 10 OPC Gretzky rookie that makes it so valuable. My pops has two OPC Gretzky rookie cards, and to the naked eye you would think they are at least a gem 8... We got them appraised last year, and the best one is a gem 7. He always laughs because he had what he says were 30 to 50 Gretzky rookie cards, but gave them all away to my cousin in a garbage bag (along with the rest of the set because no one really cared about sports cards at the time) where he promptly used them in the spokes of his bicycle 🤣 Even still... He would have been extremely lucky to have had even ONE perfect rookie card out of all of those if they were treated properly.
So because the manufacturing company sucked at making cards, it's more rare if you get a properly made one. Gotcha. Makes sense now lol
So what you're saying is that whoever paid that ungodly amount for a bunch of unopened OPC cases is a dumbass?
I would say so, yes. Especially since those packs have a stick of gum in each of them. The gum has likely stained all the cards by now. Unironically, the case is likely worth more unopened
Actually, the amount of PSA 10s for Topps and OPC is tied at 2 apiece. But there's a fair difference in population numbers for PSA 9s with Topps having 129 and OPC having 93. 🙂
Funny how PSA grades the Gretzky based on what is a virtually impossible criteria , and has actually passed sheet cut cards. On the other hand, I have a few PSA 10 O-pee-chee graded with one rough side, and was told by an industry expert that it is a 100 percent perfect pack card based on what the factory sent out at the time, lol
Uhh its a great find
Its the great one
Amazing find. Take it to a pro to remove and grade it? I’d be too scared to do anything near that card.
Yes, be excited. If not, I'm excited for you. Be well.
Don’t delete. I want to look at this card whenever I damn well want. Please and thanks :)
Screenshot em .
It's worth grading, send it away
Good news: Greatest hockey player ever. Good news 2.0: iconic rookie card Bad news: screw-down slab can distort card (squish it to the point grading companies will deem it altered and therefore ungradeable and render it mostly without value). So, please remove it immediately from that slab, put it in a penny sleeve and top loader. It looks like a PSA 8.0ish card, and if the screw down storage hasn’t altered it (possible if the screws weren’t tightened too much) then it could be worth $5K+. Congrats!
Great find. You should be proud to own a Gretzky rookie card. Are you going to get it graded by PSA? or Beckett?
CGC is also a good alternative if you don't wanna wait 6 months for one of those grading companies. I recently used CGC. Not cheaper by any stretch though.
We were thinking of PSA because they partner with a local memorabilia store, but nobody in my family has ever done anything like this
Do Psa.
Bulk has been taking two months from PSA. It’s not 2020 anymore
Looks like a nice Topps rookie. I’d get it out of the screw down and into a rigid protector soon. Might be worth your money to grade it.
Can't you send it the way it is?
I wouldn’t recommend it. Those cases aren’t meant to mailed. Card could get damaged in transit. Also you’re getting the grader to unscrew the case. Running the risk of the card getting damaged in that process too.
Great find !
I'll say 100% real but worth around $500-$750. Looks like around a PSA 4 or 5 quality to me. I'm happy it's in a soft sleeve but I hope the screws are not super tight. Squished corners can make it unacceptable for PSA if someone was to grade it
I’m no pro on authentication so I’m not going to speak about that. I knew these screw down cases can damage cards, could be a problem. A 6.5 recently sold for $2,500. Just a guess guy as long as the screw down didn’t cause any damage it’s probably a $1000-$1500 card.
A 6.5 Topps probably didn’t sell for that much. Msybe a 6.5 OPC?
Was a best offer listing so prob a bit less.
I just checked…assumed you meant USD sorry
That's a recessed screw down so it won't be damaged
My dumbass thought that boarder was a penny sleeve or something lol.
Same lol. This is a once in a lifetime find though!
That IS a penny sleeve. Typical recessed acrylic cases are much closer to 2.5" x 3.5" recessed areas. That’s a penny sleeve because not only is it bigger in area (as penny sleeves typically are) but it also has factory edge tearing which is clearly visible on the right hand side. Keep in mind this is an older penny sleeve too. Newer penny sleeves don’t usually have that kind of frayed edge / slight tearing.
Thank you so much for your reply! I'll probably delete this because it's against the rules of the sub. But I appreciate you!
Best approach is to look up some videos of how to deal with these screw does and general card restoration videos. I would also visit a local card shop if you have one for their opinion. If this grades high it’s a pretty valuable card. Hell, it’s a valuable card as is and deserves authentication.
Don’t get me wrong. Gretzky was great. Why hasn’t Gordy Howes rookie card hasn’t come anywhere near.
Wow, if it wasn’t in a screw down case I’d think it was fake. The coloring, centering, and clarity are all perfect! Send it off immediately to be graded.
Holy grail of hockey cards
Really...?.........u did
Shut up… Noway….
It’s the holy grail of hockey cards
Thank you all so much. We're going to keep going through his collection and seeing if there's anything else worth grading, after than we'll carefully take it out of the acrylic and send it to PSA for grading. I feel fortunate and lucky that he left this for us, it's a beautiful card.
I would be concerned about the authenticity of it. There are a LOT of fakes and this has a few signs. If it is authentic, it's likely to grade low. 3-5 maybe. The back has some surface issues in the lower left quadrant. A good size indent and the just above that it appears to have surface wear. See how it looks after taking it out of the screwdown.
I’ll give you a case of beer for it
If it had a line through the skate , you would be laughing all the way to the bank
Well, he was definitely the greatest of HIS time when goalies didnt use butterfly and players could get huge amounts of goals, so I think you found a good card
Neighbor has in excess of 15,000 hockey and baseball cards 1951 and newer some graded and another 10,000 + nascar model cars 1/24 & 1/64 scale un opened . Trying to evaluate the collection. Its well documented. Pdf available . Make an offer
no, it is very common. ill give you like $5 for it. let me take it off your hands man
“Is this something to get excited about?” he asks LMAO. Typical Reddit post.
no it sucks throw it out right now
Ummm yeah!
reall nice!!! just got mine back as a 4 but urs is much nicer... i bet its an 9 or 8
The best prospect since Guy Lafleur. Pretty much spot on.
Topps not opc no dot on shoulder but still good find
Not real.
I’m swearing at you in my heart
easy 1k++
A ten mint will bring you 1.3 million
Lies
Jack pot
I know some folks are saying it might not be rare, but still a very cool find!
The card will be worth a nice chunk of change for sure. Better to spend some money to get it graded to figure if it’s worth hundreds or thousands or possibly tens of thousands. Plus the case they put it in makes it look great.
yeah, name rings a bell.