MARIO LEMIEUX
Hockey • 1985-86 Topps Hockey
Sport & Year
Hockey • 1985
Brand & Set
Topps - 1985-86 Topps Hockey
Card Number
#9
Card Type
Rookie Card
Rarity
Base
Parallel Variant & Language
Base • English
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Grade
Excellent (EX 5)
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $100 - $250 | Graded (PSA 5): $175 - $225 | Graded (PSA 10): $15,000+
Recent Sales
Recent eBay sales for raw copies range from $150 to $300 depending on eye appeal. PSA 8 copies sell for roughly $800-$1,000, while lower grades (PSA 4-6) settle in the $150-$350 range.
Condition Details
The card shows significant top-to-bottom centering issues (heavy on the bottom). Visible corner softening on all four corners. Possible surface scratches on the dark jersey area and slight edge chipping along the bottom yellow border.
Grading Recommendation
Worth grading due to status as one of the most iconic rookie cards in hockey history. However, due to the poor centering and corner wear, it likely grades between a PSA 4 and PSA 6. Grading provides authentication and protection even if the technical grade is modest.
Card Description
Mario Lemieux is pictured in his Pittsburgh Penguins road black and gold jersey. He is shown in a crouched action pose. The card features a white border with a top-right corner cutout for the Penguins logo and a yellow nameplate at the bottom with 'MARIO LEMIEUX' and 'C' (Center).
Notable Features
True Rookie Card (RC). Widely considered the most important hockey card of the 1980s alongside Wayne Gretzky. Note: The Topps version has a matte finish compared to the glossier O-Pee-Chee counterpart.
Authentication Notes
Appears to be an authentic 1985 Topps print. Authenticity can be verified by the high-quality dot matrix pattern and specific card stock texture common to mid-80s Topps. No immediate signs of reprint are visible, but the card should be inspected out of the holder for surface indentations.
Scanned: 2026-06-23T07:52:47.220651