What happened
On November 6, Upper Deck announced that Wayne Gretzky is now its second Legacy Partner, a status previously held only by Michael Jordan. According to Upper Deck's announcement, the expanded deal extends the company's long-running exclusive agreement with Gretzky and covers premium autographed trading cards and memorabilia using his authenticated signature and likeness.
As part of an agreement with the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Hall's research facility has been renamed the Walter Gretzky Upper Deck Hockey Resource Centre, in honour of Wayne's late father. "My dad and my family mean everything to me," Gretzky said in the release.
What is on display and for sale
- Exhibit in Toronto: A small, non-ticketed display in the Hall of Fame's foyer includes a one-of-one Upper Deck Authenticated piece honouring Walter, signed and inscribed by Wayne, alongside archive artifacts from his career. It runs through November 22, 2026.
- Upper Deck Master Collection – Wayne Gretzky: Back for the first time in 25 years, numbered to 250 and sold only on UpperDeckStore.com. Three boxes (#1, #4 and #9) are signed and inscribed by Gretzky to mark his 2,857 points, four Stanley Cups and nine Hart Trophies. Sports Collectors Daily reports a price of US$5,999.99.
- New UDA prints: Five Upper Deck Authenticated prints, including the first UDA memorabilia featuring Gretzky with the WHA's Indianapolis Racers.
Why it matters for collectors
Gretzky remains the anchor of the hockey card market, and the Legacy Partner label signals that Upper Deck plans to keep releasing premium, signed Gretzky products. A 250-copy box is a high-end item, but limited runs like this tend to influence prices for other certified Gretzky autographs.
What Canadian collectors should know
The display is free to see if you are in downtown Toronto before November 22. If you are buying a Master Collection, keep in mind it is priced in U.S. dollars, so exchange, shipping and duties add to the cost. Collectors can also buy and sell Gretzky cards on TCE in CAD.