Which Wayne Gretzky rookie card is this?

Separate the 1979 O-Pee-Chee and Topps Wayne Gretzky rookie cards, then identify the 1980 O-Pee-Chee second-year card.

Player
Wayne Gretzky
Research lane
NHL card identity
Coverage
Two rookie issues plus one second-year anchor
Last reviewed

The plain-English answer

Wayne Gretzky has two widely cataloged 1979 rookie issues with the same card number: O-Pee-Chee #18 and Topps #18. The brand name and card back separate them. The 1980 O-Pee-Chee #250 is a second-year card, not another rookie.

Identify first. Compare condition and sales second.

Build the exact-card record

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3 sourced starting records
Open checks remain

1979 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Wayne Gretzky #18, Standard or base version

  • Inspect the back and confirm the printed product and number.
Role
O-Pee-Chee rookie issue
Keep separate from
1979 Topps #18, modern reprints, altered cards, and later Gretzky issues.
Open this identity source

Selected card identity files

This is a focused starting map, not a complete player checklist.

1979

O-Pee-Chee Hockey

#18

O-Pee-Chee rookie issue

Front check
Match the blue-border design and Oilers image to a trusted O-Pee-Chee reference.
Back check
Confirm O-Pee-Chee and card number 18. The back text and print line help separate it from Topps.
Separate from
1979 Topps #18, modern reprints, altered cards, and later Gretzky issues.
Version rule
Rough factory cuts and edge chipping can occur on the O-Pee-Chee issue. Those traits are condition evidence, not automatic proof of authenticity.
Verify this record
1979

Topps Hockey

#18

Topps rookie issue

Front check
The front design is closely related to O-Pee-Chee, so do not stop at the player image or card number.
Back check
Confirm the Topps brand and card number 18 on the back.
Separate from
1979 O-Pee-Chee #18, modern reprints, and later Topps tribute cards.
Version rule
The shared number does not make the Topps and O-Pee-Chee cards interchangeable. Record the brand in every search and sale comparison.
Verify this record
1980

O-Pee-Chee Hockey

#250

Second-year regular issue

Front check
Match the 1980 O-Pee-Chee design and regular player image to a trusted reference.
Back check
Confirm O-Pee-Chee, Wayne Gretzky, and card number 250.
Separate from
1980 O-Pee-Chee record breaker #3, All-Star #87, team leader #182, and 1980 Topps #250.
Version rule
Several 1980 cards show Gretzky. Write the full subset name and number instead of searching only the year and player.
Verify this record

Make a fair comparison

These rules keep different cards from being mixed into one result.

  1. Match the full year, product, card number, and named version before comparing two cards.
  2. Keep base cards, parallels, inserts, autographs, and memorabilia cards in separate comparison groups.
  3. Compare raw cards with raw cards, or use the same grading company and grade when comparing holders.
  4. Treat an asking price as an offer, not evidence of a completed sale.

Inspect before you grade or sell

Condition is a separate question from card identity. Authentication is a separate question too.

  • Inspect the blue borders for chipping without assuming every chip has the same effect on grade.
  • Check centering, print defects, corners, surface, and the full card back.
  • Do not trim rough edges or clean the card in an attempt to improve appearance.
  • Use expert authentication for a high-stakes example and verify any holder certification directly with the grading company.

Questions collectors ask

Short answers that can stand on their own in search.

What number is the Wayne Gretzky rookie card?

Both the 1979 O-Pee-Chee and 1979 Topps Wayne Gretzky rookie issues use card number 18. The brand and back identify which card you have.

Are 1979 O-Pee-Chee #18 and 1979 Topps #18 the same card?

No. They are separate products. Their fronts are similar and they share a card number, but the brand and card back distinguish them.

Is 1980 O-Pee-Chee #250 a Wayne Gretzky rookie card?

No. It is a second-year regular issue. Gretzky's O-Pee-Chee and Topps rookie issues are from 1979.

Does a rough edge prove a Gretzky card is authentic?

No. Rough factory cuts can appear on O-Pee-Chee cards, but authentication requires the complete set of printing, paper, size, image, and card-back evidence.

Sources and research notes

Last reviewed August 15, 2026. Annual review or after a catalog correction. Catalogs can be corrected, so open the live source before a high-stakes decision.

  1. PSA CardFacts: 1979 O-Pee-Chee set Set-level evidence identifying Wayne Gretzky #18 as the rookie card in the O-Pee-Chee set.
  2. PSA CardFacts: 1979 O-Pee-Chee #18 Card-specific identity and condition reference. The displayed value fields are not used here.
  3. PSA Set Registry: Wayne Gretzky master set Catalog evidence listing 1979 O-Pee-Chee #18 and 1979 Topps #18 as separate entries.
  4. PSA CardFacts: 1980 O-Pee-Chee set Set-level evidence identifying the regular 1980 Gretzky card as #250 and separating other Gretzky subsets.

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