Gretzky Oilers jersey hits record $126,365 in Clas

Hockey collectors knew it was going to be a big event when it was announced that Classic Collectibles-Quebec was collaborating with the Edmonton Oilers in hosting its December auction featuring Oilers items.

The auction was originally scheduled to include 693 lots, but despite a late reduction in the number of lots available (as requested by the Edmonton Oilers Hockey club), the auction remained an overwhelming success.

Not surprisingly, Wayne Gretzky items led the way in the auction with 10 out of the top-15 selling lots associated with Gretzky items. No. 1 on the list was a Gretzky 1979-80 Edmonton Oilers game-worn rookie jersey, which received 20 bids, and sold for $126,365. A distant second was a 1983-84 Gretzky Edmonton Oilers white Nike game-worn jersey, selling for $38,500.

There were several original pieces of artwork by Stephen Holland that featured Gretzky that sold very well. The first featured Gretzky in an Edmonton Oilers jersey holding up the Stanley Cup. This piece of art sold for $19,965. The second piece of art featured Gretzky in a Los Angeles Kings jersey, and sold for $12,100. The third piece of art featured Gretzky in a Team Canada jersey, and sold for $12,100. The final piece of art featured Gretzky in a New York Rangers jersey, and sold for $11,000.

Other top-selling Gretzky items in the auction included: a 1990s Gretzky autographed Los Angeles Kings game-worn jersey ($17,261); a 1981-82 Gretzky 77th goal of the season in 65 games milestone goal puck ($11,515); Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers Heritage Classic Mega Stars warm-up jersey ($8,140); and a 1979-80 Gretzky 50th career NHL goal milestone puck from his rookie season ($6,490).

The auction wasn't all Gretzky, though. The highest selling non-Gretzky item was a 1990-91 Mark Messier game-worn Edmonton Oilers jersey, his last Oilers jersey. It received 26 bids and sold for $24,624. Other top-selling items included: Peter Pocklington's 1987 Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup Championship ring ($13,450); a 1974-75 Jacques Plante WHA Edmonton Oilers game-worn goalie mask, his last mask ($10,443); and a 1981-82 Grant Fuhr Edmonton Oilers game-worn rookie goalie mask ($9,173).

A unique item to be included in a hockey auction was a lot that included 1933 Goudey Canadian Baseball cards. The lot included 82 of the 94 cards in the set, along with plenty of duplicates. The duplicates of note included nine extra Babe Ruth cards and 10 additional Lou Gehrig cards. This lot was not lost among all the hockey items, as it received 11 bids, and sold for $15,345. That was sixth best in the entire auction.