A museum-quality piece of hockey history. This PSA/DNA authenticated Gordie Howe autographed card commemorates one of the most remarkable achievements in professional hockey – the 1000th career goal scored by “Mr. Hockey” at 49 years old. Graded AUTO 10, this represents the absolute pinnacle of autograph quality, featuring Howe’s bold blue signature across this milestone card from the final O-Pee-Chee WHA set ever produced.
Key Identifiers
- Year: 1977-78
- Brand/Set: O-Pee-Chee WHA
- Sport/Game: Hockey
- Player/Character: Gordie Howe
- Team/League: New England Whalers, WHA
- Card Number: #1
- Parallel/Insert: 1000th Goal Milestone Card
- Serial Number: None
- Rookie: No
- Autograph: On-card, authenticated
- Memorabilia: No
- Grading Company: PSA/DNA
- Grade: AUTHENTIC (card), AUTO 10 (autograph)
- Cert: 121410037
- COA/Hologram: PSA/DNA hologram on slab
- Language: English/French (bilingual back)
- TCG Rarity/Regulation: N/A
- Packaging State: Slabbed
Condition or Grade
PSA/DNA authenticated with AUTO 10 (GEM MINT) autograph grade – the highest possible grade on PSA’s 1-10 scale. The AUTO 10 designation indicates a virtually perfect autograph with bold, clear signature, excellent placement, and zero skipping or retracing. Card is encapsulated in PSA/DNA tamper-evident holder with blue label displaying certification number.
Why it stands out
- The Player: Gordie Howe is universally recognized as “Mr. Hockey” and ranks as the second-greatest player in hockey history behind only Wayne Gretzky. His 32-year professional career produced 1,071 total goals (801 NHL + 174 WHA) and 2,589 points across an unprecedented five decades of NHL competition. Howe won six Hart Trophies as league MVP, six Art Ross Trophies as scoring champion, and four Stanley Cups with Detroit. His combination of skill, toughness, and longevity redefined what a hockey player could be. The 1000th goal milestone, scored at age 49 on December 7, 1977 against Birmingham, represents just one of countless records set by a player who continued competing at the highest level well into his fifties.
- The Milestone: This card commemorates Howe becoming the first player ever to score 1,000 professional goals, a feat accomplished only once more in hockey history by Wayne Gretzky. Scoring this goal at 49 years old while playing alongside his sons Mark and Marty with the New England Whalers adds to the achievement’s legendary status. The card is #1 in the 1977-78 O-Pee-Chee WHA set – the final WHA set ever produced before the league folded – making it the most sought-after card in that 66-card collection. The “1000” design element with stars across the top celebrates this historic moment in hockey history.
- The Autograph: The AUTO 10 grade represents perfection in autograph collecting. PSA’s GEM MINT 10 designation requires bold, uninterrupted signature flow, optimal placement, and complete authenticity representative of Howe’s classic signing pattern. On-card vintage autographs of this quality are exceptionally rare, as most signed cards from the 1970s exhibit some degree of fading, skipping, or placement issues. This example showcases Howe’s signature in vibrant blue ink across the card front, authenticated by the industry-leading PSA/DNA service. The combination of a milestone card, Hall of Fame legend, and perfect autograph grade creates a truly exceptional collectible.
Who it’s for
- Serious Gordie Howe and Detroit Red Wings collectors seeking museum-quality pieces
- Hockey historians and Hall of Fame memorabilia specialists
- Vintage autograph collectors focused on highest-grade examples
- WHA memorabilia collectors completing the final O-Pee-Chee WHA set
- Investors seeking blue-chip hockey assets with documented provenance
- Anyone wanting to own a piece of the only 1000-goal achievement in hockey history (until Gretzky)
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