Mario Lemieux
Hockey • 1985-86 O-Pee-Chee
Sport & Year
Hockey • 1985
Brand & Set
O-Pee-Chee - 1985-86 O-Pee-Chee
Card Number
#9
Card Type
Rookie Card
Rarity
Base
Parallel Variant & Language
Base • English / French (bi-lingual on back)
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Grade
Very Good-Excellent (VG-EX 4)
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $350 - $600 | Graded (PSA 4): $450 - $550 | Graded (PSA 8+): $2,000+
Recent Sales
Recent eBay sales for raw copies with centering issues range from $300 to $500. PSA 4 copies typically sell for around $500, while PSA 9s can exceed $10,000.
Condition Details
Highly visible top-to-bottom centering issues (heavy bottom-heavy shift). Significant edge whitening on the right side and bottom edge through the yellow border. Visible corner rounding on the bottom right and top right corners. Potential surface scuffing or 'fisheye' printing defects common for this era.
Grading Recommendation
Yes, grading is recommended for authentication purposes alone. Because this is one of the most counterfeited cards in the hobby, a slabbed 'Authentic' or low grade (even a 3 or 4) preserves value and ensures liquidity. Do not expect a high grade due to severe centering and edge wear.
Card Description
Card features Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame center Mario Lemieux in his classic home yellow jersey. The design includes a yellow border, the 'O-Pee-Chee' logo in the top left, and the Penguins logo in the upper right. Mario's iconic #66 is clearly visible on his shoulder.
Notable Features
This is Mario Lemieux’s primary rookie card. O-Pee-Chee cards from this year are generally more valuable than the Topps counterpart due to a larger set size and more 'rough' cuts that make high grades rare. Features the RC designation in the hobby community.
Authentication Notes
Print quality appears consistent with 1980s cardboard stock. The 'rough' edge cut on the right is typical of the O-Pee-Chee wire-cutting process. Verification of the dot pattern (Ben-Day dots) in the yellow border under magnification would be required for absolute certainty of authenticity.
Scanned: 2026-04-14T15:59:44.402307