45 Vintage Sports Cards That May Have Tripled Their Value Over Time

#26: Wayne Gretzky – 1979 O-Pee-Chee

Our first and only hockey card on the list is of Wayne Gretzky. Beginning with the Edmonton Oilers in 1979, Gretzky’s popularity quickly rose. Hockey’s “Great One,” is the only player to have his jersey number retired league-wide. Gretzky made 894 goals, assisted 1,963 other goals, and had a total of 2,857 points over his career. He is widely considered to be the greatest hockey player of all time.

The Topps card from 1979 is much more recognizable and familiar but not the most valuable. That award goes to O-Pee-Chee, a Canadian confectionery company (Nestlé bought in 1996) that also created trading cards. Their mint condition 1979 Gretzky rookie card is worth about $500,000.