A momentous discovery in a Canadian basement has resulted in an extraordinary windfall for a family, as an unopened case of ice hockey cards fetched an astounding $3.1 million USD at auction. The finding, concealed in a basement office in Saskatchewan, has generated widespread excitement within the sports memorabilia community.
The unopened case, potentially containing over 20 “rookie cards” of ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, has captured the attention of enthusiasts and collectors alike. The family who stumbled upon this treasure were understandably delighted and elated at the overwhelming success of the auction, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the auction house Heritage Auctions to CBC News. The winning bid, amounting to $3.1 million USD, was made by a Canadian buyer who has opted to remain anonymous.
Heritage Auctions, headquartered in Dallas, has hailed this remarkable find as “the greatest unopened discovery of the 21st Century”. The unopened case of pristine 1979-80 cards, produced by the now-defunct O-Pee-Chee brand, has sparked significant interest within the sports cards community.
The fortuitous find occurred when the owner’s son was decluttering the office in Regina and came across the case, which had been gathering dust for many years. According to Jason Simonds, a sports cards specialist at Heritage Auctions, the father was a seasoned collector who had obtained the sealed case with intentions of building sets to sell. However, he never got around to it, and the family’s fortunate discovery has now resulted in a significant windfall.
The unopened case consists of 16 boxes, each containing 48 packs with 14 cards per pack, amounting to over 10,000 cards. Prior to the auction, all 16 wax boxes within the larger case underwent authentication to confirm their legitimacy.
While the precise contents of the case remain a mystery, based on the typical contents of O-Pee-Chee cases, it is highly probable that numerous valuable Gretzky rookie cards are nestled within. According to Mr Simonds, the likelihood of finding such a collection would be a significant statistical anomaly.
The auction lot description from Heritage Auctions speculated that there could be approximately 27 physically pristine Gretzky rookie cards within the unopened case, with individual cards fetching anywhere from thousands to hundreds of thousands of pounds in the market.
Wayne Gretzky, also known as the “Great One”, made an indelible mark on the National Hockey League during his illustrious 20-year career, which spanned from 1979 to 1999. His achievements included four Stanley Cup championships, nine Hart Trophies, and the setting of over 61 NHL records, solidifying his status as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
The unprecedented success of the auction has not only brought immense financial gain to the family in Canada but has also underscored the enduring appeal and value of sports memorabilia, particularly in the realm of ice hockey cards.
As the remarkable saga of the unopened ice hockey cards found in a Canadian basement continues to unfold, the story serves as a compelling reminder of the countless untold treasures waiting to be discovered in the most unexpected of places.