INGLEWOOD, CA - 1989: Wayne Gretzky #99 of the Los Angeles Kings tries to score against the Chicago Blackhawks during an NHL game at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
REGINA, Saskatchewan (AP) — A case of old hockey cards possibly containing Wayne Gretzky as a rookie has fetched more than $3.7 million after it was discovered in a Regina home.
Heritage Auctions says the winning bidder bought the case of 16 sealed boxes of O-Pee-Chee’s 1979 hockey card collection, amounting to more than 10,000 cards. The auctioneer says the case could include 25 or more highly coveted Wayne Gretzky rookie cards.
Case of unopened hockey cards that may contain Wayne Gretzky rookies sells for $3.7M at auction https://t.co/NOhxOiBNWp pic.twitter.com/mZtpJnQmYN
— New York Post (@nypost) February 27, 2024
A man in Regina had kept the case in a packed storage room. The auctioneer says the longtime collector asked to remain anonymous.
A company spokesperson has said he doesn’t expect the winning bidder will open the boxes, as they are rarer than the rookie cards.
Many believe that the 1992 USA Basketball ‘Dream Team’ is the greatest basketball team ever assembled.
Utah Jazz legend and ‘Dream Team’ starter Karl Malone was well aware of the greatness surrounding him. During the 1992 run, Malone asked for a game-worn jersey and pair of shoes from almost every player on the roster.
Are you on Threads yet? Let’s connect, give us a follow @kslsports.
An article from ESPN highlights Malone’s collection and what sold for the most at auction.
In 1992, Karl Malone went around to his Dream Team teammates and asked for a pair of game-worn shoes and jerseys.
Last night, they sold for $5.38 million 😳https://t.co/Np6fqUjXyw
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 25, 2023
The item that sold for the most was, unsurprisingly, Michael Jordan’s notorious No. 9 signed game-worn jersey.
Jordan’s jersey and shoes sold for nearly $3.5 million.
BREAKING: the Michael Jordan 1992 Olympic “Dream Team” Game-Used, Photo-Matched, Signed, Inscribed Jersey has sold in our Dream Team Auction.
Final sale price: $3,030,000 🏀🐐 pic.twitter.com/dZY9U2gZDB
— Goldin (@GoldinCo) May 25, 2023
Malone also sold memorabilia from the likes of Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, and David Robinson.