Mark Messier
Hockey • 1980-81 O-Pee-Chee
Sport & Year
Hockey • 1980
Brand & Set
O-Pee-Chee - 1980-81 O-Pee-Chee
Card Number
#289
Card Type
Rookie Card
Rarity
Base
Parallel Variant & Language
Base • English / French
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Grade
Very Good (VG 3) to Very Good-Excellent (VG-EX 4)
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $150 - $250; PSA 4: $225 - $300; PSA 5: $350 - $450; Higher grades increase exponentially (PSA 10 is $50k+).
Recent Sales
Recent eBay sales for raw copies in similar mid-grade condition have ranged from $180 to $275. Graded PSA 4 and 5 copies consistently sell in the $250-$450 range.
Condition Details
Obvious surface scratching and scuffing visible on the plastic holder which may affect the card face. The centering is significantly shifted to the top-right. Corners show soft rounding and visible whitening. The green border shows minor ink chipping.
Grading Recommendation
Yes, grading is recommended for authentication and protection even if the grade is modest. Due to the high number of counterfeits for this specific card, a slabbed 'Authentic' or low-grade holder significantly increases liquidity. Predicted grade: PSA 3 or 4.
Card Description
Mark Messier is shown in his Edmonton Oilers road uniform (blue/orange), holding a Koho hockey stick. He is in a skating stance. The card design features a 'puck' in the upper right containing the name and position, with the team name 'OILERS' in a red banner. This card is from his debut season.
Notable Features
This is the official Rookie Card (RC) of Hall of Famer Mark Messier. Unlike the Topps version, the O-Pee-Chee (OPC) version is more desirable due to the larger set size and higher demand in the hockey hobby.
Authentication Notes
The O-Pee-Chee version is distinguished by a 'rough cut' edge often found on the sides, which is visible here. The print quality on the 'puck' and banner appears consistent with 1980 OPC factory standards. No immediate signs of being a reprint are visible, but a loop inspection of the dot pattern is required for 100% certainty.
Scanned: 2026-04-13T07:39:05.523342