Wayne Gretzky, known as “The Great One,” is widely considered to be the greatest hockey player of all time. He was born on January 26, 1961 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada and began his professional hockey career in the World Hockey Association (WHA) at the age of 17. He later joined the National Hockey League (NHL) and played for the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers.
Gretzky’s career achievements are unparalleled in the history of hockey. He holds numerous records, including most career goals, assists, and points in NHL history. He won the Hart Trophy (MVP) a record nine times and led the NHL in scoring for ten seasons. He also won four Stanley Cup championships with the Edmonton Oilers.
Off the ice, Gretzky’s impact on the game of hockey has been significant. He helped popularize the sport in the United States during his time with the Los Angeles Kings, and he remains an influential figure in the hockey community. After retiring as a player, Gretzky has continued to be involved in the sport as a coach, executive and TV commentator.
Overall, Wayne Gretzky’s career is marked by his exceptional skill, record-breaking achievements, and lasting impact on the sport of hockey. He is a legend in the world of professional sports and remains a revered figure in the hockey world.
Awards and Honors:
- Gretzky received the Hart Trophy (NHL MVP) a record nine times.
- He won the Art Ross Trophy (NHL points leader) a record ten times.
- Gretzky was a part of four Stanley Cup-winning teams with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s.
- He was named to the NHL All-Star Team 15 times and was named the All-Star Game MVP three times.
- Gretzky was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and skill five times.
- He won the Lester B. Pearson Award (now the Ted Lindsay Award) as the NHL’s outstanding player as voted by the NHL Players’ Association five times.
Currently, PSA has authenticated nearly 11,000 unsigned copies of Wayne Gretzky’s 1979 O-Pee-Chee rookie card, yet have only authenticated less than 250 autographed copies. I originally purchased a SGC 2 copy of the card and cracked it open before sending it TTM. It was little nerve-racking to send the card through the mail but it was very exciting to receive it back signed and have it confirmed authentic by PSA.
Discover more from Autographed Trading Cards
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.