1979 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Wayne Gretzky ROOKIE #18 BVG 9 MINT

Just as stories of Wayne Gretzky’s dominance remain at the forefront of any discussion regarding hockey history, the prominence of his 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee #18 rookie card endures more than four decades after its release. As if this issue wasn’t appealing enough as the RC of one of the most dominant athletes in sports history, its gorgeous design elevates it even higher. But, as with many aesthetically pleasing sets throughout sports card history, this card skates the line between fantastic and frustrating, with its beautiful blue borders known for chipping. Add to that miscutting and centering issues that plague the release, and you’ve got a printing that’s difficult to net in high grade. As such, landing an example as strong as this Mint BVG 9 remains a goal for those looking to land the rookie card of the greatest hockey player of all-time. Beckett has graded the OPC Gretzky RC more than 4,811 times. This is one of just 58 to get a Mint 9 grade from the company with just 12 ranking higher. Despite plenty of fans, media members, and collectors clamoring for the Next One, no hockey player to date has compiled an overall resume that comes close to stacking up to the Great One’s. And while card companies have produced plenty of other memorable printings since, none stand up to this, the most famous hockey card of all time. Learn more about this iconic issue in our Guide to Wayne Gretzky’s 1979 Rookie Card: https://www.fanaticscollect.com/definitive-guides/a-guide-to-wayne-gretzkys-1979-rookie-card The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 03/24/2026.