Sealed Case of 1979 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Cards Sells for $2.52 Million at Heritage Auctions

BELIEVED TO CONTAIN DOZENS OF WAYNE GRETZKY ROOKIE CARDS, THE ONE-OF-A-KIND CASE BECOMES THE MOST VALUABLE WAX BOX IN HOBBY HISTORY

By Intelligent Collector Staff 

A sealed case of 1979–80 O-Pee-Chee hockey cards, potentially packed with dozens of rookie cards featuring a young Wayne Gretzky, sold for $2.52 million at Heritage Auctions on December 7, setting a new world record for any unopened sports card product ever offered at auction. 

The case, which contains 16 unopened boxes totaling 768 individual packs, was authenticated by Baseball Card Exchange as the only known example of its kind. It was the top lot in Heritage’s Winter Sports Catalog Auction, a three-day event that realized $23.77 million and drew nearly 3,500 bidders from around the world. 

“This 1979–80 O-Pee-Chee case remains a true one-of-one,” said Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage. “Its sale not only underscores the soaring value of rare sports collectibles but also highlights how singular finds like this can redefine the upper limits of the market.” 

Originally purchased in Canada by a passionate collector in the 1970s, the case was rediscovered by his son behind “stacks and stacks of other stuff,” according to Heritage specialists. It had previously sold in February 2024, but when that transaction fell through, the case was returned to auction — and again commanded national attention. 

What makes this case so significant is what it may contain: potentially more than two dozen rookie cards of Wayne Gretzky, the NHL’s all-time leading scorer and arguably the greatest hockey player to ever take the ice. Even single unopened boxes from the 1979 O-Pee-Chee run have become nearly impossible to find. A full sealed case, with ironclad provenance and authentication, is virtually unheard of. 

With this record-setting result, Heritage Auctions once again proves itself to be the go-to destination for headline-making discoveries, and offers a clear answer to a question consignors often ask: Where’s the best place to sell a once-in-a-lifetime collectible? 

Other highlights from the auction included a 1915 Cracker Jack Shoeless Joe Jackson card graded SGC Mint 9 that sold for $504,000, a PSA Mint 9 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson card that brought $432,000, and a PSA Gem Mint 10 1982 Hulk Hogan wrestling card that realized a new record of $132,000. 

But it was the untouched stacks of cardboard sealed in 1979, and the legend who may be lurking inside, that delivered the auction’s most unforgettable result.