The 30 Most Valuable Hockey Cards of All Time

In continuation of our coverage of the most valuable sports cards of all time (see our Baseball, Basketball, and Football pieces) in this article, we present the Most Valuable Hockey Cards of all time.

You might be surprised that a lot of your favorite hockey players didn’t make this list (all-time greats like Ray Bourque, Patrick Roy, or Mario Lemieux)

Unfortunately, many of those late ’70s and early 1980’s hockey cards were produced in sizeable quantities, enough to make some of those high-quality rookies mostly affordable.

We focus here on vintage hockey cards worth over $6,000. 

The end list is 30 cards. You might notice that some players get a few spots on the list, notably Howie Morenz, who has four of the most valuable hockey cards of all time.

This guide will also be a bit of a hockey history lesson for collectors.

I’ve tried to provide a background on each player and some videos that best capture the essence of each player.

While our cutoff line was $6,000 (normally in Excellent to NM condition), many of these vintage hockey cards can be found for a lot cheaper if you’re willing to sacrifice on condition. 

I update these lists every year, but if you see something that should be on the list, let me know via email at chris@allvintagecards.com.

1910 C56 – Art Ross (RC) #8, #12

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – Near Mint to Mint): $18,000

The Imperial Tobacco company issued three hockey sets from 1910 to 1913. Their inaugural set in 1910 (also cataloged as C56 in Jefferson Burdick’s American Card Catalog) is considered to the first true hockey card issue. The cards were issued inside packs of Imperial Tobacco cigarettes which were sold in Canada. 

Art Ross #8 Rookie Card from the 1910 C56 Set 

Art Ross #12 Rookie Card from the 1910 C56 Set

Art Ross has two cards (#8, #12) in the C56 set, both considered to be his rookie card. Card #8 features Ross in a dark maroon sweater with the Haileybury ‘H’ logo on the crest, while card #12 features a similar full color portrait pose of Ross, yet in a striped sweater with a massive H. 

PSA has graded roughly 100 copies of each so the card is fairly scarce and highly sought after among vintage hockey card collectors.  

The cards in Excellent condition (PSA 5) run for around $10,000, but lower graded copies in Poor to Good condition can sometimes be found for under $1000.

The Legend Of Art Ross

Art Ross is considered one of the best defenders to ever play the game of professional hockey. His contributions to the game led to monumental changes in the way hockey was played.

For example, he was one of the first players to skate up the ice with a puck as opposed to passing it to another player. He also was instrumental in creating a certain kind of hockey puck that remains in use today.

In his thirteen seasons, Ross won two Stanley Cup Championships, one with the Kenora Thistles in 1907 and another in 1909 with the Montreal Wanderers.

Following his playing career, he went on to become a very successful NHL coach serving as the head coach of the Boston Bruins from 1924 to 1945 and then as the General Manager of the Bruins until 1954. 

Ross was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1949 and donated the Art Ross Trophy (with his sons) to the NHL. The Art Ross Trophy as many are familiar with – today goes to the player with the most points each season in the NHL.  

1910 C56 – Fred “Cyclone” Taylor (RC) #15

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – Near Mint to Mint): $12,000

The 1910 C56 Cyclone Taylor card has similar scarcity to other cards in the set, with PSA grading roughly 120 copies to date.

The C56 Rookie Card of Fred “Cyclone” Taylor.

Taylor’s card has a slightly lower value than that of Art Ross with Excellent grade (PSA 5) copies selling for around $3-$4K. Luckily vintage collectors can usually find Good condition copies of Taylor’s rookie card for less than $1000.

Taylor’s C56 card is also considered his true rookie card and features “Cyclone” as a member of the Renfrew Creamery Kings where he played from 1909 until 1911 before leaving to play for Vancouver.

Note both teams were referred to as the “Millionaires’ due to the excessive salaries paid to the players at the time. Taylor’s card features his classic stare down pose which appears intimidating, although Taylor himself was reportedly quite a humble guy.  

One Of Hockey’s First Superstars

Known for his prowess as a skater, Fred “Cyclone” Taylor was one of hockey’s first true superstars.  Taylor actually earned the nickname “Cyclone” for his skating abilities, and despite being a defenseman, he was also a prolific scorer.

Taylor finished his career with more than one goal per game and led teams to Stanley Cup Championships in 1909 and 1915.  Taylor was also named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1947.   

One fact that I thought was interesting is that “Cyclone” Taylor actually earned more money than the Prime Minister of Canada!  (source Cyclone Taylor Sports).

1910 C56 – Newsy Lalonde (RC) #36

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – Near Mint to Mint): $14,000

Lalonde’s C56 card is once again considered his true rookie card and features “Newsy” as a member of the Renfrew Creamery Kings where he was also a teammate of “Cyclone” Taylor.  

A 1910 C56 Newsy Lalonde rookie card.

This was Lalonde’s only season as a member of Renfrew, as he was acquired from the Canadiens midseason, yet left for the Montreal Canadiens the following season.

Lalonde’s C56 card has a similar scarcity level with PSA grading ~120 copies. Good condition copies can be found for under $1000 if you look hard enough.  I think for Lalonde, Taylor and Ross these are really good opportunities for vintage hockey card collectors given the relative scarcity and the legacy of each player.

Newsy The Flying Frenchman 

Edouard “Newsy” Lalonde was a star lacrosse player and one of the most well-regarded hockey players of his time. Nicknamed ‘Newsy’ by his peers while working at the paper mills as a boy, Lalonde was a gifted scorer, racking up 266 goals over 200 games played from 1909 to 1922. 

Lalonde was a part of the Montreal Canadiens, one of the founding franchises of the NHL in 1917, and one of the notorious “Flying Frenchmen”.  Lalonde wasn’t exactly the friendliest player on the ice–often getting into brawls and at one point actually punching one of his players while a coach.   

Yet, Newsy’s results on the ice were never in question as he helped guide the Canadiens to their first NHL title while winning six scoring titles throughout his career.

1911 C55 – Georges Vezina (RC) #36

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – Near Mint to Mint): $75,000

Vezina’s rookie card is one of the most valuable hockey cards of all time and the priciest card in the 1911 C55 set.  It has been graded approximately 200 times by PSA; which makes the Vezina card and the C55 set in general a bit easier to find.

The 1911 C55 rookie card of Georges Vezina.

Still, a Near Mint copy is worth ~$75,000. Lower graded copies still demand a good premium, with even good (PSA 2) copies selling in excess of $2000. 

Note, we named the Vezina rookie card to our Large Cap Value Hockey Portfolio.

The Legend Of Georges Vezina

The Canadien’s only goaltender from 1910 thru 1925, Vezina played a whopping 327 consecutive games (and an additional 39 playoff games) after being signed in 1910.

Known as the “Chicoutimi Cucumber” (Vezina grew up in Chicoutimi, Quebec) for his cool composure in goal, Vezina led the league in goals-against average seven times, while helping lead the Canadiens to Stanley Cup wins in 1916 and 1924.  

Many are likely familiar with the Vezina name due to the ‘Vezina Trophy’ which is awarded to the best goaltender each year in the NHL. Vezina was also one of the original inductees into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945.

1911 C55 – Cyclone Taylor #20

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – Near Mint to Mint): $10,000

Cyclone Taylor’s second year C55 card (in nice condition) is actually nearly worth as much as his C56 rookie card with a Near Mint copy worth roughly $10,000 whereas a similar graded rookie card only sells for a few thousand more.  

The second year C55 card of Cyclone Taylor.

PSA has graded roughly 160 copies of Taylor’s C55 card.  If you’re looking for a lower graded copy they can be found; a good condition Taylor has been selling for under $1000, a good deal relative to the overall scarcity in my opinion.

1911 C55 – Art Ross #31

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – Near Mint to Mint): $8,000

Ross’ second-year card has been graded ~150 times by PSA and features Ross as a member of the Wanderers. Some collectors don’t like the cartoonish drawings of the C55 cards, but I tend to like them. 

The 1911 C55 rookie card of Georges Vezina.

Ross’ card is no exception, with bright bold yellows and reds giving a glimpse into hockey’s past history.  Good condition copies of the Ross C55 card are quite affordable and can normally be found for under $500. 

did you know?

Art Ross

During his later playing day years, Ross opened up a sporting goods store in Montreal that remained in business for decades.  While Ross is considered to be one of the most important figures in the history of hockey, he also served as a traveling secretary for the Boston Braves in 1928.

1911 C55 – Joe Malone (RC) #4

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – Near Mint to Mint): $7,000

Malone’s C55 rookie card is one of the most sought after rookie cards for vintage hockey collectors. PSA has graded 133 copies, making it scarce, but not necessarily rare. If you want a lower condition copy, VG to Excellent copies are often found for less than $500.

The C55 rookie card of “Phantom” Joe Malone

“Phantom” Joe Malone is regarded as one of the greatest scorers in the early days of hockey, amassing the first most goals among all players in hockey’s first half-century (source). 

He is also well known for setting and still holding the league’s record for the most goals (7) in one game.  He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1950 and was ranked #39 by The Hockey News in their list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

1911 C55 – “Newsy” Lalonde #42

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – Near Mint to Mint): $6,000

Lalonde’s second-year C55 card is still a high-demand card and is relatively scarce with only 172 copies graded.  

Good to VG copies (as shown below) sell for between $250 to $500, a good inexpensive card for any hockey fans.

Recent auction prices for C55 Newsy Lalonde card.

1912 C57 – Georges Vezina

Estimated Value (PSA 5 – Excellent): $7,000

The second-year card of Hall of Fame goalie Georges Vezina is one of hockey’s most valuable, although not quite as pricey as his 1911 rookie card.

The C57 card is much scarcer than his rookie; note that PSA has only graded ~ 40 copies, versus 200+ copies for his C55 Rookie Card.

It is also very hard to find in good condition–PSA has graded only 5’s (Excellent) or lower.  

Even those in lower grades are quite pricey–expect to pay up to $2000 for Good condition copies.

1912 C57 – Punch Broadbent #2 (RC)

Estimated Value (PSA 5 – Excellent): $2,000

Harold “Punch” Broadbent was known as one of hockey’s first power forwards playing most of his professional career with the Ottawa Senators. 

His acumen on the ice helped lead the Senators to three Stanley Cup wins in 1920, 1921, and 1923.  Broadbent was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963.

Broadbent’s C57 rookie card features ‘Punch” as a young member of the Senators. 

Like the other cards in the set, Broadent’s rookie is quite scarce with PSA grading roughly 30 copies to date.  For a good condition example, expect to pay between $400 to $800.

1912 C57 – Clint Benedict #3 (RC)

Estimated Value (PSA 5 – Excellent): $2,000

Clint Benedict’s 1912 C57 rookie card is a must have for vintage hockey collectors and it’s a tough one to find. PSA has graded roughly 40 copies, making higher grade versions quite valuable. Among the graded versions there is only one Near Mint copy out there, likely worth close to $10,000.

Clint Benedict’s C57 Rookie Card

An Early Hockey Innovator

Clint Benedict was one of the early innovators in goaltending; notably, the first goaltender to wear a mask and the first to drop to his knees to stop the puck, which earned him the nickname ‘Praying Benny”. 

His teams won the Stanley Cup in 1921, 1923, and 1926.

Over the course of thirteen NHL seasons between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Maroons, Benedict amassed 191 wins and an impressive 58 shutouts. 

1923 V145-1  Bert Corbeau #25 (RC)

Estimated Value (PSA 4 – VG-EX): $40,000

Bert Corbeau was an average player by most measures, but his card from the V145-1 set is among the most valuable of all hockey cards.

The V145-1 set is mostly recognized as an anonymous issue, although many believe it was released by the William Patterson candy company. 

The card is rare, with only a handful graded by PSA. The Corbeau card was short-printed by the company due to the fact that collectors could win a pair of hockey skates if they assembled the 40 card set.  The limited printing made it so they didn’t have to give away too many skates. (Source)

The card above is the ‘Cancelled’ version of the card which indicates that someone sent in the Corbeau to receive the hockey skates–see the black hole punch at the bottom right of the card.

1923 V145-1  Howie Morenz #25 (RC)

Estimated Value (PSA 5 – Excellent): $20,000

Howie Morenz’s rookie card from the V145-1 set is the second most valuable in the set behind the ‘holy grail’ Bert Corbeau card. His rookie has been graded roughly 45 times by PSA, which roughly equivalent with most of the other cards in the set. 

While an Excellent (PSA 5) graded Morenz rookie is going to set you back in upwards of $20,000, lower graded copies can certainly be found for less, but still will cost in the thousands.

Howie Morenz And The Babe?

Some refer to Morenz as the ‘Babe Ruth’ of Hockey due to his dominance as a goal scorer and his speed on the ice.

Over his fourteen-year playing career, Morenz was the league’s top ten scorer in ten seasons, a member of three Stanley Cup championship teams with the Canadiens, and a three-time MVP winner.

1923 V145-1  Georges Vezina #19 

Estimated Value (PSA 5 – Excellent): $1500

Vezina’s third-year card is the third most valuable in the V145 set and features Vezina towards the tail end of his career with the Canadiens.  PSA has graded roughly 45 copies of the V145 Vezina card.  Lower-grade copies can be found often for less than $1000.  

1923 V145-1  King Clancy (RC) #3 

Estimated Value (PSA 5 – Excellent): $1500

Clancy’s rookie card has been graded ~48 times by PSA with only one Near Mint (PSA 7) card with the remaining copies at lower grades.  While a PSA 7 copy is worth up near $20,000 due to its scarcity, the lower end variations are much more affordable.  Good (PSA 2) copies are usually found for less than $1000.  

King Clancy’s V145-1 Rookie Card

Small in stature at only 155 pounds, Frank “King” Clancy used every ounce of his body weight to establish himself as one of the best defenders to ever play the game of hockey. He was the highest-scoring defenseman in NHL history when he retired in 1936 and led the Ottawa Senators to two Stanley Cup titles and won one while with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is awarded to NHL players each year that have contributed significantly to charitable causes.  The award was named for Clancy who was considered to be one of the ‘best humanitarians in Canada’. 

1924 Champ’s Cigarette (C144) – Howie Morenz 

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – NM): $10,000

Only 20 copies have been graded by PSA of this 1924 Champ’s Cigarette (C144) card of hockey legend Howie Morenz.  The Champ’s Cigarette cards were issued as a 60 card set by Tobacco Products Corporation and inserted inside of packs of Champ’s Cigarettes. 

Morenz is the most valuable card in the set, yet the issue is loaded with stars such as Georges Vezina and King Clancy and many first-year issues. 

1933 Hamilton Gum (V288) – Howie Morenz #8

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – NM): $6,000

You’ll maybe start noticing a trend here—yes, many of hockey’s most valuable cards do belong to one Howie Morenz, and of course for good reason–Morenz is one of hockey’s all time greats. 

This 1933 Hamilton Gum card (aka as V288 in the American Card Catalog) is a 21 card set that features four color background variations (orange, green, blue and yellow).

The Morenz card is not scarce, but with ~70 copies graded by PSA, it is a lot harder to find in better condition.  While a Near Mint copy will probably run you around $8,000,  a lower grade copy (PSA 3 or under) can sometimes be found for $500 or less.

A 1933 Hamilton Gum Howie Morenz card.

1933 O-Pee-Chee (V304A) – Howie Morenz #23

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – NM): $6,000

Yep another Morenz, and this is the most valuable in the 1933 set, which would be first of five classic vintage sets issued by O-Pee-Chee.

PSA has graded over 100 copies of the 1933 OPC Morenz, so a little easier to find than some of his earlier issues.  While a Near Mint copy is worth $6,000, you can often find Excellent copies for less than $1000.

1951 Parkhurst – Maurice Richard (RC) #4

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – NM): $7,000

Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard was one of the best to play the game, and was named as the #5 best NHL player the Hockey News 100 Greatest Players of all time. 

Richard was a prolific goal scorer and the first to score 50 goals in one season (which he did in 50 games).  

Richard’s 1951 Parkhurst rookie card is one of the key cards to the landmark 1951-52 Parkhurst hockey set. The Parkhurst or “Parkie” cards are small relative to other card issues and only measure 1-3/4” by 2-1/2”.  

The cards feature a player profile with last year’s stats on the front bottom of the card placed below a grainy player photo.

Richard’s rookie has been graded roughly 400 times by PSA, so given the relative demand for the card, nicer condition copies can demand a significant premium.  The latest sale of a Mint copy in 2019 went for $57,500.  

IF you want a lower graded Richard rookie, a Good condition copy can be found for around $1000 if you shop around long enough.  

1951 Parkhurst – Gordie Howe (RC) #66

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – NM): $30,000

When you talk about the all time NHL Greats, Gordie Howe must be mentioned.  A 23 time NHL All-Star, Howe was considered to be on the best all-around players to play the game, due to his amazing offensive abilities and defensive abilities.  

Howe played an unbelievable 26 seasons and even played a game in five different decades, a feat that will most likely never be replicated.

Howe’s rookie card from the 1951 Parkhurst set is one of the most sought after hockey cards of all time.  It has been graded roughly 500 times by PSA, making it quite expensive for higher graded copies.  

Several NM-MT (PSA 8) copies have recently sold for close to $40,000.  A good (PSA 2) copy can be found likely in the $2K-$3K range.  

The 1951 Parkhurst rookie card of Gordie Howe.

1953 Parkhurst – Jean Beliveau (RC) #27

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – NM-MT): $9,000

One of NHL’s all time greats, Jean Beliveau was an imposing scorer, posting 507 goals and 1219 points over 1125 games with the Montreal Canadiens. 

Beliveau was part of an amazing 10 Stanley Cup-winning teams with the Canadiens and was the fourth player to score 500 goals.  Beliveau was named as the 7th best player of all time by The Hockey News.

I really like the 1953 Parkhurst cards which feature a full sized drawing of the player with a fascmile auto across the image.  Beliveau’s rookie card is the most valuable card in the set; while a PSA 8 is worth close to $10k, you can normally find good condition copies for less than $500.

We named the 1953 Parkhurst Beliveau rookie card to our All Vintage Cards Mid Cap Value hockey portfolio.

1954 Topps – Gordie Howe #8

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – NM): $6,000

The 1954 Topps set marked the first hockey entry for the Topps Company and featured red, white and blue colors on the front of the card.  

Gordie Howe’s #8 card is the most valuable of the 60 card issue and has been graded by PSA roughly 600 times.  

Good condition copies can usually be found on eBay for less than $300.  

1955 Parkhurst – Jaques Plante (RC) #50

Estimated Value (PSA 8 – NM): $9,000

Ranked as the thirteenth best player of all time by The Hockey News, Jaques Plante is known as the pioneer of modern goaltending.

Plante had a incredible run of five consecutive Stanley Cup wins and five consecutive Vezina Trophy wins, two records that yet to be achieved.

Plante’s 1955 Parkhurst rookie card has been graded ~270 times thus it tends to be tougher to find then many of the other issues of the era.  Due to the relative scarcity, Plante’s rookie in middle grades runs in the several of thousands of dollars. 

Rookie card of star goaltender Jacques Plante.

1958 Topps – Bobby Hull (RC) #66

Estimated Value (PSA 9 – Mint): $150,000

Arguably, one of the best player to ever play the game of hockey, Hull was an offensive wizard, with blazing speed and a shot that ultimately earnd him the nickname “The Golden Jet”  

Hull’s 1958 Topps rookie card is at the tops of vintage hockey collector’s wish lists.  

The issue is that it wasn’t widely distributed, given that PSA has only graded the card around 400 times. 

This means, it’s gonna cost you.  Expect to pay $3-$5K for a PSA 3 though PSA 5 copy.

1966 Topps – Bobby Orr (RC) #35

Estimated Value (PSA 9 – Mint): $150,000+

Bobby Orr’s 1966 Topps rookie card is a holy grail for vintage hockey card collectors and one of the hobby’s most of Bobby Orr’s most valuable cards.  

Reminiscent of the 1955 Bowman baseball cards, Orr’s rookie card features the young Bruin inside of a brown bordered TV set.

PSA has graded Orr’s 1966 Topps card roughly 900 times, so they aren’t scarce by any means, but given the demand, higher graded copies will certainly set you back a few bucks. 

Recent Near Mint copies have sold for over $75,000.  And even Poor copies of Orr’s rookie card are valued at more than $2000.

Why Are Bobby Orr Cards So Hotly Demanded?

Bobby Orr is a Boston legend, one of the greatest to ever play the game, and one of the most revolutionary defenseman of all time.

Orr played twelve seasons in the NHL winning eight consecutive Norris Trophies as the league’s best defenseman, three Hart Trophies (MVP) and two Stanley Cup titles with the Bruins.

1979-80 Topps – Wayne Gretzky (RC) #18

Estimated Value (PSA 9 – Mint): $45,000+

The rookie card of “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky, is likely the most well-recognized card in the history of hockey cards. 

The ‘Great One’ Wayne Gretzky Topps Rookie card is widely available and fairly inexpensive even in excellent condition. 

For sports card collectors, the Gretzky rookie is a must-have and can be relatively affordable in lower-graded conditions. 

Many are surprised at the availability of the card itself, as PSA has graded over 6000 of Gretzky’s Topps rookie cards.

While a Mint copy is worth around $45,000 or more, you can usually find one in Excellent condition for less than $5,000.

1979-80 OPC – Wayne Gretzky (RC) #18

Estimated Value (PSA 9 – Mint): $70,000+

If we look at PSA’s stats, Gretzky’s OPC rookie card has been graded slightly less than his Topps variation, by around a few hundred or so, thus the OPC isn’t necessarily all that much scarcer. 

The ‘Great One’s’ 1979 OPC Rookie card.

In examining the higher grades, we can see that there is some meaningful difference from PSA 8 thru PSA 10 hence there is a premium attached with the OPC card in general.