Cards you MUST HAVE in your personal collection:
1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky #18
The 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky card is THE Hockey Sports Card to get. Period. If you have just one Hockey Card in your collection (in my opinion) this is the one. Not only is it the rare O-Pee-Chee rookie of the Hockey GOAT himself, but it is known for several distinctive features that make it stand out from other cards.
One of the most notable features of the 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky card is the blue lines that appear under the hockey player on the BACK of the card:
These lines are present on the first print run of the card, which is considered more valuable by collectors due to its rarity. The blue lines were removed in subsequent print runs of the card, which makes the first print run the only versions of this card I recommend for your personal collection or for investment purposes.
In addition to the blue lines, the 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky card is also known for its wire-cut edges. Most hockey cards from this era were produced using a process called die-cutting, which involved using a sharp blade to cut the card into its final shape. The 1979 O-Pee-Chee cards, however, were produced using a different process called wire-cutting, which involved using a wire to cut the card into its final shape. This resulted in rough cut edges, leading to lower grades of cards, making the higher grades much more valuable.
In my opinion I love the charm of the wire cut edges, it is like a time machine. Here is the one from my personal collection I just acquired:
The 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky card was released by O-Pee-Chee, a Canadian company that was known for producing high-quality sports cards and other collectibles. The card was part of the company's 1979-80 NHL hockey card set and was one of the first cards featuring Gretzky, who was a highly touted prospect at the time.
Gretzky was born in January 1961 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, and he began playing organized hockey at a young age. He quickly showed a natural talent for the game and played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League before being drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL in 1979.
Gretzky quickly became one of the most dominant and popular players in the NHL, leading the Oilers to four Stanley Cup championships in the 1980s. He set numerous scoring records, including the most goals and points in a single season, and was named the NHL's Most Valuable Player eight times.
Gretzky's success on the ice made him a household name and made his 1979 O-Pee-Chee card a sought-after collectible. The card has remained popular with collectors over the years, and it is often considered one of the most valuable and iconic hockey cards of all time.
In addition to the blue lines and wire-cut edges, the 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky card is also notable for its high-quality photograph and design. The card features a close-up photograph of Gretzky in his Oilers jersey, as well as his name and team logo. The back of the card includes a brief biography of Gretzky and statistics from his rookie season in the NHL.
Gretzky played in the NHL until 1999 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. After retiring as a player, he became an owner and executive in the NHL and has continued to be a prominent figure in the hockey world.
Today, the 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky card is considered a valuable and highly coveted collectible among hockey card collectors. It is often sold for hundreds or even thousands of dollars at auctions and online marketplaces, and it is a testament to Gretzky's enduring legacy as one of the greatest hockey players of all time.
