In February, a 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey card case was sold at auction for a staggering $3.7 million. However, the case remains with Heritage Auctions, as the buyer, Jack Arshawsky, a real estate agent from Vaughan, Ontario, has only paid $3 million of the total price and is looking for a new owner who shares a deeper passion for the collection. Arshawsky, who is not a serious collector himself, inherited money and decided to bid on the case after it was heavily featured in the media. Post-auction, he learned that the underbidder was greatly disappointed at losing out on this unique item, sparking Arshawsky’s decision to find someone more suited to appreciate the case.
Arshawsky has attempted to reach out to notable figures like Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz, rapper Drake, and even hockey legend Wayne Gretzky to see if they would be interested in acquiring the collection, but so far, there has been no response. A representative from Heritage Auctions has stated that it’s not uncommon for the auction house to retain items post-sale due to payment and financing arrangements, though it is typically expected that all auction items are paid for promptly to allow for timely payment to consignors.
The case contains 16 boxes, each with 48 packs, and it is speculated that there could be at least 25 Wayne Gretzky rookie cards among them. The value of the case is largely derived from its unopened condition. It originally belonged to a collector active during the time it was produced and has been one of the most significant stories in the collectibles market this year.
Before the auction, the case was opened and each box was authenticated by the Baseball Card Exchange, then resealed. Arshawsky has now hired a Toronto-based attorney, Hy Bergel, to assist in finding a suitable buyer while Heritage holds the case in their Texas vault. He insists that he is not looking to profit from flipping the case but is focused on finding the right home for these cards. If no buyer is found, Arshawsky has even considered gifting the case to a childhood friend, whom he considers his "true soulmate," underscoring his desire for the cards to be truly appreciated.