Wayne Gretzky takes great pride in every aspect of his life, whether that means performing at the highest level during his 20-year NHL career or signing his autograph.
Just like his hockey game, his commitment to providing fans with a great autograph stems from his father, Walter.
“His dad is the one that really took pride and made sure that Wayne took pride in his autographs,” Gabe Garcia, director of Upper Deck Authenticated, told cllct. “What would be considered by a lot of people as just not as important, the pride he takes into signing his autograph is a tribute to how he lives his life and played his career.”
With the Edmonton Oilers back in the Stanley Cup finals, this time placing their hopes on three-time Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid, Upper Deck is rolling out a collection of Gretzky memorabilia celebrating his first Stanley Cup victory in 1984.
With McDavid under license, Upper Deck would likely enjoy a welcome boost in sales of his memorabilia if he can rally Edmonton to win the Cup, not only due to increased attention on McDavid, but the opportunity to craft special edition memorabilia for the occasion.
Upper Deck signed Gretzky to an exclusive license in 1990 and has offered collectors countless autographed products and memorabilia over the years. Gretzky, one of Upper Deck’s elite group of exclusive athletes which includes Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, will be featured in various throwback images throughout the collection honoring the 1984 victory.
Already live on the Upper Deck website are multiple autographed images, including prints titled “On Top at Last,” limited to 84 and priced at $1,599.99, “The Great One’s First 40th Anniversary Logo,” limited to 40 and priced at $2,499.99 and “First Stanley Cup 1984 40th Anniversary Logo,” limited to 40 and priced at $2,499.99.
For his part, Gretzky is more than a passive participant.
“There's a lot of times when we bring certain questions, whether it's about his own career, or confirming he actually wore a jersey, and he's an encyclopedia of knowledge,” Garcia said. “Then he’ll give us a little bit of storytelling. He's always providing a lot of that support.”
An autographed Oilers “Heroes of Hockey” jersey with a 40th anniversary patch, limited to 99 and priced at $2,999.99, joins an autographed “First Stanley Cup 1984” replica Stanley Cup trophy, priced at $2,999.99, as the collection’s debut selections.
Upper Deck will be releasing the collection in the lead-up to the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention. As for pricing, Garcia says there won’t be an additional premium attached to the anniversary collection items compared to the prices collectors are already used to from established products.
“It'll be very equal to the what the collectors are accustomed to seeing and paying for his memorabilia right now,” Garcia said.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.