▲

Ice hockey is a sport beloved in many parts of the world, with that love taking on different components in decades past. Remember when collecting and trading hockey cards was all the rage? Plenty of collectors used to boast about retiring on the value of those very cards. Yet while time revealed that this would not be the case for most, some cards have proven to be absolute gold mines. And what do those cards all have in common? They all feature the best players in the history of the game.

Based on a list from the Bleacher Report, in this new gallery we look at the 15 most valuable hockey cards of all time. Click on to unveil the big names and numbers!

▲Retired goaltender Patrick Roy's 1986-87 Topps rookie card as a Montreal Canadiens player is the 15th most valuable hockey card out there.

▲If you can find one of these cards in high grade quality condition, you can expect a value of over US$300.

▲

More love for goaltenders. The late Terry Sawchuk's 1951-52 Parkhurst rookie card from his time with the Detroit Red Wings is one of the most valuable out there.

▲A highly graded one of these can be worth over US$1,500.

▲Yes, currently active players and their cards are included on this list as well. Alexander Ovechkin makes the cut with his 2003-04 SP Authentic autographed rookie card.

▲

A high grade card can fetch over US$2,000, having gone up in value after the Russian player won the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018.

▲"Sid the Kid" is the only other active player on this list. His autographed patch (i.e. including a swatch of his team jersey) rookie card can be yours, but only for a pretty penny.

▲So how much for the Pittsburgh Penguins icon's card? One with a high grade can go for at least US$5,000.

▲One of the greatest hockey players of all time, Bobby Orr's 1966 Topps USA Test rookie card brings us up to five digits in terms of value.

▲From his time with the Boston Bruins, a graded one of these limited edition cards is worth around US$10,000.

▲Guy Lafleur cracks the top 10 with his first-ever rookie card: a 1971 O-Pee-Chee.

▲From his time with the Montreal Canadiens, one of these cards with a perfect or near-perfect grade can go for US$12,000.

▲It's the continued dominance of the Montreal Canadiens, and the return of the goaltender. This Jacques Plante (b. 1929-d. 1986) card was only found in Quaker Oats cereal boxes.

▲Easily ruined, surviving cards (and especially those in good condition) are rare, and can therefore fetch up to US$12,000.

▲The man who gave his name to the Vezina Trophy for the NHL's best goaltender also has a hockey card worthy of his status as a legend of the game.

▲

The late Georges Vézina's (pictured here below the Stanley Cup) 1911 card was distributed as a tobacco card, and can go for US$13,000.

▲Bobby Hull's 1958 Topps rookie card is his most expensive.

▲From his time with the Chicago Blackhawks, a high grade value card is worth about US$13,000.

▲"Mr. Hockey" enters this list for the first time with his 1954 Topps hockey card (not to be confused with his rookie card).

▲The late Gordie Howe, and this card, will always be linked with the Detroit Red Wings. His 1954 Topps card can go for US$13,000 with a high grade.

▲Now for the final five. Mario Lemieux makes it with his 1985 Topps rookie card.

▲A one-team player, this card could only be from Lemieux's time playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Its worth? Over US$14,000 at a high grade.

▲The Montreal Canadiens get their final entry on this list with the legendary Maurice "Rocket" Richard.

▲The late Richard's 1951 Parkhurst rookie card can go for more than US$15,000, if highly graded.

▲A second and final appearance from Gordie Howe. His 1951 Parkhurst rookie card is actually smaller than most cards.

▲This particular card is very difficult to find, especially in good condition. If you manage to do both, expect to pay around US$15,000.

▲Bobby Orr makes the list again. And, yes, with another 1966 Topps rookie card (but this time from the PSA 9 series and not the USA Test PSA 7).

▲This is by far Orr's most expensive card, valued at over US$40,000 at a high grade.

▲

Of course the greatest hockey player ever had to take this crown as well. Wayne Gretzky's 1979 O-Pee-Chee rookie card, in all his Edmonton Oilers glory, is the highest valued hockey card around.

▲

So what's the most valuable hockey card of all time worth? A remarkable US$50,000 with a high grade.

The most valuable hockey cards of all time

Any idea how much the most expensive hockey card out there goes for?

11/12/19 por StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Sports

Based on a list from the Bleacher Report, in this new gallery we look at the 15 most valuable hockey cards of all time. Click on to unveil the big names and numbers!