In the hallowed halls of the collectibles world, where sentimentality and desire often collide with staggering sums of money, one tale of hobbyist nobility stands out. Jack Arshawsky, a real estate aficionado from the snowy surrounds of Vaughan, Ontario, finds himself playing the reluctant caretaker to a small treasure trove of cardboard and dreams—a 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey card case priced at a cool $3.7 million.
Rewinding to February, at a spirited auction overseen by Heritage Auctions, this pristine package went under the hammer and emerged with a price tag that could make anyone’s eyes water. The lot in question isn’t just any card case—it’s speculated to be home to at least 25 rookie cards of none other than “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky. These aren’t merely cards; they are paper gateways to nostalgia, to a time when arenas buzzed with the sight of No. 99 gliding over ice.
Arshawsky, after securing this collectible behemoth through a winning bid and laying down $3 million of the owed amount, had an epiphany. His win, albeit financially sound and historically significant, felt hollow as he considered the underbidder’s profound disappointment. Thus commenced his quixotic quest to find a successor with fire in their belly—a collector to whom this case would mean more than just a veritable Payday bar of hockey memorabilia.
His search for the perfect custodian has seen him reach out to the high towers and deep pockets of Canadian icons and hockey aficionados alike. Among the most notable of these were Daryl Katz, the magnate behind the Edmonton Oilers; the global music sensation, Drake; and the legendary Wayne Gretzky himself. Despite these high-profile appeals, a suitable collector remains as elusive as a ghost in the fog.
Currently nestled in the secure confines of Heritage’s Texas vault, the card case has morphed into something of a storied legend. Heritage Auctions notes that while it’s not uncommon for items to remain in limbo as financial details are ironed out, the situation with this lot is a tad unique given its high profile and unresolved ownership transfer.
Meanwhile, Hy Bergel, a Toronto-based lawyer, has been conscripted into Arshawsky’s mission. Together, they navigate the turbulent waters of the collectibles market, seeking that elusive beacon of passion and respect for this frozen slice of hockey history. Arshawsky’s motivations twirl around the axel of altruism—he wishes not for profit, but for preservation. He hopes these cards will find a hearth to bask in their full glory, appreciated and celebrated.
Should this unparalleled library of Gretzky’s rookie year remain unclaimed by a buyer aligned with ethical collecting, Arshawsky has considered an equally poetic alternative. The case may end up as a gift to a childhood friend, a gesture that would turn this tale of cards and cash into one of friendship and fond memories.
This story melds the frosty thrill of the rink with the warm glow of human kindness, reminding us that even in the world of lucrative auctions and prized possessions, the heart has its reasons. Whether this case finds its forever home with a high-profile enthusiast or in the hands of an old pal, one hopes it’s a place where every crackle of a card being pulled from a pack is a echo of the joy it brings.
