Gretzky rookie card sells for record $1.29M

It's been over 20 years since Wayne Gretzky last played in the NHL, but The Great One is still breaking records.

A 1979 Gretzky O-Pee-Chee Gem Mint rookie card sold for $1.29 million on Thursday, according to Heritage Auctions.

There are only two specific 1979 Gretzky O-Pee-Chee cards to receive a Professional Sports Authenticator 10 gem mint status, making it extremely rare.

It's the first hockey card to surpass the $1-million mark. It's also the sixth-most expensive sports card ever sold, trailing a 2009 Mike Trout ($3.9M), a 1909 Honus Wagner ($3.3M), a 1952 Mickey Mantle ($2.9M), a 2013-14 Giannis Antetokounmpo ($1.9M), and a 2003-04 LeBron James ($1.8M), according to a list made in November by Groove Wallet.

Gretzky is the NHL's all-time leader in goals, assists, and points. Even if you took away his 894 career goals, his 1,963 assists would still be the most points ever. He won 10 Art Ross Trophies, nine Hart Trophies, and four Stanley Cups.

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