If you’re looking at a Wayne Gretzky rookie card PSA 10, you aren't just looking at a piece of cardboard. You’re looking at a private island. Or a fleet of Ferraris. Maybe a very nice mansion in the suburbs of Toronto. Honestly, the market for the 1979 O-Pee-Chee Gretzky has reached a level of absurdity that makes most Wall Street traders look like they’re playing with Monopoly money.
It’s the "Holy Grail" of hockey. But why?
Basically, back in 1979, nobody cared about "Gem Mint" quality. These cards were printed on rough Canadian cardstock using wires that literally tore the edges as they cut the sheets. They were shoved into wax packs with a stick of gum that leaked oil onto the surface. Most of them ended up in bike spokes or shoeboxes. Finding one that survived forty-plus years without a single microscopic flaw is statistically impossible.
Yet, a couple of them exist. Well, maybe just one now, depending on who you ask at PSA.
The PSA 10 Mystery: One or Two?
For a long time, the hobby knew of exactly two 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie cards graded PSA 10. That was the "Pop 2" (Population 2) everyone talked about. Then things got weird.
In late 2024, collectors noticed something strange in the PSA database. One of those two "perfect" cards was deactivated. This was the specific card that had famously sold for $3.75 million back in 2021. When a card gets deactivated from the population report, it usually means there’s a question about its authenticity, or it’s being re-evaluated, or it was part of a major security sweep.
👉 See also: LeBron James Without Beard: Why the King Rarely Goes Clean Shaven Anymore
As of early 2026, the official count for the O-Pee-Chee version is often cited as a "Pop 1." Imagine owning the only perfect copy of the most important hockey card in history. That’s not just a collectible; that’s a monopoly on a legend.
O-Pee-Chee vs. Topps
You've probably seen the "Topps" version too. It looks identical to the O-Pee-Chee at first glance. Same photo of Gretzky in his Oilers blue, looking like a teenager who just realized he’s the best in the world. But the O-Pee-Chee (the Canadian version) is the one that commands the king’s ransom.
- Topps PSA 10: There are also two of these in the world. One sold for $1.2 million in 2022. It’s "cheaper" because the O-Pee-Chee is considered the true hometown rookie card.
- The Back of the Card: The easiest way to tell them apart? The Topps version has only English text. The O-Pee-Chee has English and French. Simple as that.
Why a Wayne Gretzky rookie card PSA 10 costs millions
Most people don't realize how brutal the grading process is for these 1979 cards. To get a 10, the card has to be perfect. No "snow" (those little white dots in the ink), no rough edges, and perfect 50/50 centering.
The blue borders are the enemy here. Because the borders are a dark, vibrant blue, every tiny "touch" of white on the corner shows up like a sore thumb. Even a PSA 8, which is just a "near mint-to-mint" grade, will set you back about $15,000 to $20,000 these days.
A PSA 9? You're looking at $130,000 to $150,000.
✨ Don't miss: When is Georgia's next game: The 2026 Bulldog schedule and what to expect
The jump from a 9 to a 10 is where the "insanity premium" kicks in. You are paying for the rarity of the grade, not just the player. Gretzky is the Great One, sure, but a PSA 10 is the Great Only.
Recent Market Shocks
The world of high-end hockey cards isn't always smooth sailing. Remember that "unopened case" of 1979 O-Pee-Chee hockey cards found in a Canadian basement? It went for over $3.7 million, then the buyer backed out, and it finally sold for about $2.5 million in December 2024.
That case was the last hope for a new PSA 10 to emerge. Everyone thought, "Surely, in a sealed case of 16 boxes, there's another 10 in there." But as the years go by, the odds get slimmer. Most experts think the population of 10s is essentially locked. If you didn't find one by now, you probably won't.
How to spot a fake (Because they are everywhere)
If someone offers you a Wayne Gretzky rookie card PSA 10 at a "too good to be true" price, run. Or at least check the slab. The number of counterfeit Gretzky rookies in the world probably outnumbers the real ones ten to one.
- The Shoulder Dot: On real O-Pee-Chee cards, there’s a tiny yellow dot on Gretzky's left shoulder. It’s a printing flaw, but it’s a consistent one. If it’s missing, be skeptical.
- The "Skate Line": Look at the back. There's often a faint line running through the word "O-Pee-Chee" near his skates.
- The Slab Security: PSA 10s are almost always tracked by serial number. You can verify them on the PSA website. If the seller won't show you the back of the slab or the QR code, it's a scam.
Honestly, the high-end card market is basically high-stakes art dealing now. You don't buy a $3 million card in a dark alley. You buy it through Heritage Auctions, Goldin, or a private broker who has done more background checks than the FBI.
🔗 Read more: Vince Carter Meme I Got One More: The Story Behind the Internet's Favorite Comeback
What should you actually do?
If you aren't a billionaire, chasing a PSA 10 is a waste of time. But that doesn't mean you can't own a piece of history.
Go for the "Mid-Grade" Sweet Spot
A PSA 6 or 7 is still a beautiful card. It’s going to have some rough edges and maybe some centering issues, but it’s real. In 2026, a PSA 7 O-Pee-Chee Gretzky sits around $5,000 to $7,000. It’s a lot of money, but it’s an asset that has historically outperformed the S&P 500 over long stretches.
Watch the Population Reports
Before you buy any Gretzky, check the PSA Pop Report. If you see a sudden influx of a certain grade, the price might dip. But with the '79 O-Pee-Chee, the "Pop" rarely moves because so few "raw" (ungraded) copies are left to be discovered.
The Topps Alternative
If the O-Pee-Chee prices make your eyes water, the Topps version is a legitimate "discount" entry. It’s the same year, same image, and same player. It’s just not the Canadian version. For many collectors, that’s a distinction that doesn't matter as much as the five-figure savings.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're serious about getting into this level of collecting, stop looking at eBay and start looking at auction houses. Search for "Prices Realized" on PSA's website to see what these cards actually sold for last month, not what someone is asking for them today. If you happen to find a raw copy in an old binder, do not touch it with your bare hands. Put it in a penny sleeve, then a top loader, and send it to PSA immediately. Even a PSA 1 is worth hundreds of dollars.
The era of finding a Gretzky 10 in a garage sale is over, but the era of the Gretzky 10 as a global financial asset is just getting started. Keep your eyes on the pop reports and your hands off the blue borders.