Sealed Case of 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Sells for Record $3.72 Million
Sports Illustrated aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Heritage’s latest auction was meant to be the biggest of 2024 so far, and it didn’t disappoint.
Highlighted by a sealed case of 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey, Heritage announced Monday afternoon that the Winter Platinum Night Sports Auction realized nearly $26 million across two days.
Possibly containing as many as two dozen Wayne Gretzky rookie cards, the sealed case of O-Pee-Chee Hockey sold for $3.72 million Sunday morning.
According to Heritage, the O-Pee-Chee sale sets a record for the most valuable case of unopened cards sold at auction, topping a $1.8 million mark set by a 12-box case of 1986-87 Fleer Basketball in 2020.
“We knew from the moment we heard this O-Pee-Chee case existed that it would get the attention of hockey card collectors worldwide,” Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage, said in a press release. “And those hockey collectors played an integral part in the success of this Winter Platinum Night event with world record results achieved for both the O-Pee-Chee case as well as the Mike Bossy collection. We’re just so proud to have been a part of presenting these treasures to the collecting world.”
Beyond the O-Pee-Chee Hockey sale, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle set another record. This time a PSA 8.5 sold for $2.37 million, more than doubling the previous high for the grade set in 2016.
Previously considered the major draw of the auction, a twice-signed, game-used Babe Ruth glove was pulled from the auction early. According to a statement to Darren Rovell, Heritage pulled the glove to conduct additional research.
Sports Illustrated aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.