The card, produced by the American Tobacco Co. between 1909 and 1911 as part of what is now known as the T206 series of baseball cards, is in extremely limited supply and has been setting price records for more than 80 years, most recently in 2016 at $3.12 million. It's the face of an entire hobby. 1. The card was designed and issued by the American Tobacco Company (ATC) from 1909 to 1911 as part of its T206 series. RARE 1910-11 M116 Sporting Life HOF Hugh Duffy SGC A Authentic Baseball Card! [23], Another explanation surmised is that Wagner did not consent because he felt he was not receiving just compensation from the ATC for his baseball card. Rosie It sounds most definitely like a reprint if it has that story on the back. An inside look at why the T206 Honus Wagner card sold for a record $6.6 The T206 Honus Wagner card has long been viewed by collectors as the "Mona Lisa" of sports cards. Beckett Graded Card Investor and Price Guide, Vol. No matter the reason(s), so few copies have made it to 2022 that the Wagner is routinely called the holy grail or Mona Lisa of trading cards. In many cases going to a collector one would worry they might undervalue with the hope of buying the collection. If you hang around this hobby long enough, you'll find there are many quirks in how baseball card values are determined. Heritage Auctions handled the sale of the card, which exceeded pre-auction estimates. Buy from many sellers and get your cards all in one shipment! The short amount of time it has remained in the hands of a single owner is indicative of the commodity status the card has achieved. Here's a look at some sales points of this card over the years: Because this particular T206 Honus Wagner card has an extra 1/16th of an inch of cardboard in its bottom border, it has been dubbed the "Jumbo Wagner". This story has been shared 240,292 times. [39] (Halper sold that card and 200 other baseball memorabilia items in 1998 to Major League Baseball for over $5,000,000. All Items matching: 2022 Topps 206 - Honus Wagner [7] That is, until August 2022 when another 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card sold for $12.6 million becoming the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia in history. I imagine theyd be very eager to grade your card. The most commonly told account is that Wagner rejected the deal because he did not want young baseball fans to purchase the tobacco packs for his baseball card. This particular T206 Honus Wagner stands out from other known examples and therefore gives it placement as a top-notch specimen. Honus Wagner document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2008-2023 The Cardboard Connection. He threatened to seek legal action against ATC if they went ahead and distributed his baseball card. As Friedland made each bid, the phone bidder would counter with a bid $5,000 or $10,000 higher. The technical grade includes the MC qualifier. MLB Power Rankings: Who's No. The consultant stated that a decent counterfeit of the card could only be produced from a "master pressman with 510 years experience, and would require a machine which would cost between $500,000 and $2 million. In November 2005, Cobb and Edwards put the card up for sale on eBay. [18][19] Wagner had been at the top of his game throughout the decade, and was even considered to be the game's greatest player at the time. 1987 Hygrade All-Time Greats Red Back Honus Wagner T-206 - GD/VG - eBay A slightly-damaged T206 Wagner card surfaced earlier this year when a man left it to the. It sold for $262,000 despite being in poor condition. Of course the famous Wagner T206 card has also added to the legend of "The Flying Dutchman." An outraged Edwards dismissed the accusations as "bullshit," adding that they would not have been made "if we were white. Belonging to the brother of Sister Virginia Muller, he left all his possessions to the Baltimore-based School Sisters of Notre Dame convent. Why? Top 10 Honus Wagner Baseball Cards Honus Wagner Cards "[46], In 1995, Gretzky sold the card to Walmart and Treat Entertainment for $500,000 (equivalent to $889,168 in 2021). Thanks for contacting us. It is graded PSA 1. Reader wrote that "[i]t is not at all uncommon to find T206 examples that have been altered at some point during their near-century of existence. Votto back with Reds after rehab . For one thing, the Wagner currently for sale was given a grade of VG 3 (on a scale of ten) by the authentication agency SGC. And it is through the roof. 12 Fast Facts About the Honus Wagner T206 Card That's where the demand comes into play. With this proof as their claim to credibility, they proceeded to list the card on eBay but eventually had the listing removed due to the overwhelming number of questions the online auction marketplace received about the cards authenticity. $350.00. Connelly consented and took the card across the country to prospective buyers. [30] The Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) company graded this card a PSA 8 Near Mint-Mint (NM-MT) on their 10-point scale,[31][32] the highest grade given to a T206 Honus Wagner card. And from there, who knows? A Honus Wagner baseball card, the most famous and among the rarest sports trading cards in the world, sold at auction Monday morning for a record $6.6 million. An IPS expert determined that the card dated back to 1910, which would be consistent to the time period when the card was distributed. Fewer than 60 copies are thought to exist today, and even when the American Tobacco Co. was issuing the card from 1909 to 1911, not many more than that were in circulation. Honus Wagner in 1905 In 1901, the American League began to sign National League players, creating a bidding war, which depleted the league of many talented players. All Rights Reserved, T206 Honus Wagner Baseball History of the Worlds Most Famous Card, Bill Mastro admitted to trimming the card, 2022-23 Topps UEFA Club Competitions Variations Guide, Top Selling Sports Card and Trading Card Hobby Boxes Hot List, 2023 National Sports Collectors Convention Guide - Autograph Signers, 2023 Topps Home Run Challenge Baseball Cards Checklist and Game Details, 2022-23 Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie Card Checklist, Gallery & Hot List, http://goldinauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=1861, 2022-23 Panini Select Premier League Soccer Cards Checklist Added, 2023 Panini Select Draft Picks Football Cards, 2022 Leaf Vivid Baseball Cards Checklist Added, 2023 Topps Game Within the Game Baseball Cards Checklist Gallery. Gretzky, who was not a major card collector, said he purchased it because he thought "the market would remain strong," thus making for a valuable investment. This didnt thwart the owners' attempts to prove the legitimacy of their card, who next presented it to Integrated Paper Services (IPS), an independent paper testing and analysis lab to have their card's paper checked for era of production. [10], Thereafter, the ATC was back in competition with other tobacco companies, so it reinserted baseball cards into cigarette packs. In 1909, the company introduced the T206 series also known as the "white border set" of baseball cards of 524 players into its cigarette packs. Beckett's population report shows they've graded 0. Included in the above auction, a PSA 1 card sold for $110,000. In 1991, Copeland sold the card to ice hockey figures Wayne Gretzky and Bruce McNall for $451,000. It was later revealed that the anonymous collector was former major league pitcher Tom Candiotti. [36] McNall orchestrated the plan to buy the card. PSAs website is psacard.com and their phone number is (800) 325-1121. A card collector by the name of Alan Ray first sold the card in 1985 to Bill Mastro, formerly of Mastro Auctions, who then sold the card to sporting goods retailer, James Copeland in 1987. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1987 Hygrade All-Time Greats Red Back Honus Wagner T-206 - GD/VG at the best online prices at eBay! While industry experts cite various factorsamong them, a rediscovery of the hobby during Covid-19 lockdowns, buzz from social media influencers, uncertainty about the stock market and a building interest in alternative assets combined with a lack of financial regulations in the card spacethere is no one explanation for the sharp rise in the market. He has variously stated he purchased the card at an estate sale from "an old couple" for $1,800 in 1983 or 1984; he claimed not to know who Honus Wagner was at the time of purchase. Let's take a look at some of the most famous: This is the finest known example of the T206 Honus Wagner card, having received a grade of 8 Near Mint - Mint from PSA in 1991. The Wagner card is considered to be the Mona Lisa of baseball cards. There is thought to be fewer than 50 authenticated copies in the industry. The T206 Honus Wagner is rare and defies traditional grading standards. [53][54] In February 2007, the Associated Press announced that Seigel had sold the card privately and directly to an anonymous collector from Southern California for $2.35 million (equivalent to $3.071million in 2021). A bidding competition between Mike Gidwitz, Mark Friedland and an unknown phone bidder ensued. LOL thats what I was thinking. In April 2011, that anonymous purchaser was revealed to be Ken Kendrick, owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Gretzky T206 Wagner was first sold by collector Alan Ray to the famed sports memorabilia dealer named Bill Mastro, the one-time owner of Mastro Auctions. This victory was a redemption of sorts for the Pirates team that six seasons prior had lost the inaugural World Series. Lifson was skeptical, but he took Mastro's word and accepted the deal, successfully selling this other Wagner card to New Jersey businessman Barry Halper for $30,000. T206 Honus Wagner Card: The Ultimate Collector's Guide I line in sparks Nevada and guess I was blessed to find honus Wagner.amazing card. [65], A similar but unaltered card, the 'Jumbo Wagner', also has a NM-MT grade quality for the majority of the card, but the lower quality edges have not been trimmed, lowering it from NM-MT to an overall grade of PSA 5 one of only three (along with Mastro's trimmed card) rated PSA 5 or better sold at a 2013 auction for $2,105,770.50. People who can play at that level understand that this is an opportunity thats not going to come around often, Dwyer says, and so when you have an opportunity to acquire something that is so rare, that is so special and so revered, and that is in such good condition as the example that were selling, youre going to see tremendous interest and prices that generally are record-setting.. Contact seller; Walton, however, never paid, and Heritage Auctions subsequently contacted one of its longtime clients, Nicholas DePace, a New Jersey cardiologist, who immediately agreed to buy the card for the same price. It may not look like much, or even resemble what we think of as a baseball cardthe shortstop sits upright, expressionless, in a fuzzy image against an unnatural orange background, no cap upon his headbut the T206 Honus Wagner just might be the single most valuable baseball collectible on earth. "[66], Initially sold at auction for $1.62M in 2008, the 'Jumbo Wagner' was featured by Goldin Auctions in their 2013 Winter Auction, which closed on April 5, 2013. The T206 Honus Wagner is considered to be the Holy Grail of all trading cards. I am new to this. we have a honus wagner cars 350-460 with a gretzky signature at the top is it worth anything.. Hi Ryan, Your inbox approves RB enters top 10 Men's basketball . The current owner is Ken Kendrick, owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who purchased the card privately in 2007 for $2.8 million. The Gretzky T206 Wagner was first sold by Alan Ray to a baseball memorabilia collector named Bill Mastro, who sold the card two years later to Jim Copeland for nearly four times the price he had originally paid. Elected to the Hall of Fame in its inaugural year, Wagner was truly one of the greats. #Shortstops: A Rarer Honus Wagner Card According to an October 12, 1912, issue of The Sporting News, Wagner did not give his consent to appear on the baseball card. Hopefully after reading through this you have a further appreciation for the rarity and value of this notorious baseball card. These two columns alone will help you identify reprints of T206s and all other cards, especially Pre-WWII cards. Copeland's sizable transaction revitalized interest in the sports memorabilia collection market. If so, then please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch right away. . Johannes Peter "Honus" "Hans" Wagner Born:February 24, 1874 - Chartiers, PA Died: December 6, 1955 - Carnegie, PA Batted:RH Threw:RH Position:SS Career BA:.328 Managerial Record:1-4 Teams: Louisville Colonels NL (February 24, 1874 - December 6, 1955) Pittsburgh Pirates NL (1900-1916; player-manager: 1917) After spending hours unsuccessfully trying to contact Gibbs, King's staff finally got through to her phone, and informed Gibbs of her prize. This is an authentic reprint of the famous 1909 Tobacco Honus Wagner Baseball Card. $924.95. With more than a week remaining for potential buyers to enter the fray, the bidding has leapt across 18 bids from a reserve price of $1 million all the way up to $4,005,519. After the auction and by not bidding on the card Mr. Mangasarian revealed to HBO that he felt the back of the card was indeed real but in his opinion the front was not. [57], Shortly after Gretzky's 1991 purchase, previously ignored allegations that the card had once been subject to alteration flared up again. Produced by the American Tobacco Company for its T206 series of baseball cards between 1909 and 1911, the Wagner has reached such mythical proportions that it is often simply called The Card. The winning bid was placed by Chicago collector, Michael Gidwitz. On November 4, 2010, the final sale price exceeded the expectations of auctioneers at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions and sold for $262,000 to Doug Walton, a collector and card-shop owner. Stock photo shown. This controversy didnt prevent the card from receiving a grade of 8 from PSA/DNA, the first card ever graded by the company in 1991. Standard Shipping (eBay Standard Envelope for Trading Cards, Stamps, Postcards & Coins up to $20) Estimated between Fri, May 5 and Tue, May 9 to 23917 Some also claim that Mastro bought the card from Sevchuk, not Ray. $3.25M a record sale for Honus Wagner baseball card. N.J. auction house 2) T206s are on thin, off-white card stock. History is just a couple of mouse clicks away. "[72], Card Collector Services graded the card and officially ruled that it was indeed a reprint. [68], Another T206 Wagner card owned by two Cincinnati men was dismissed as a fake by Bill Mastro and PSA president Joe Orlando. There are a couple of theories as to exactly why this was the case: Either way, there just aren't many T206 Honus Wagners to go around. Friedland dropped out of the competition after the phone bidder countered with a $410,000 bid for the card. Kindest regards. In April, 2011, the identity of the buyer was revealed to be Ken Kendrick, managing general partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks. As a result of the publicity generated from the financially successful Gretzky T206 Honus Wagner, a number of previously undiscovered legitimate T206 Wagner cards have surfaced. He explained that all T-206s have dark brown letters printed for the team's name and player's name and this one was in black. Three are also known to have the Piedmont backing, making it the rarest version of all. To be a part of history and facilitate this record-breaking sale is an honor.. . Auction houses including REA saw their sales spike in 2020 and are projecting them to double again in 2021. It is in excellent condition. Rookie cards, autographs and more. "[80] The Roman Catholic nuns auctioned the card, which despite its poor condition was expected to fetch between $150,000 and $200,000. After years of refusing to have the card graded, the owners agreed to have the card examined by a fringe grading service, Card Collector Services, who also ruled that the card was simply a well-produced reprint. [87] Historical price increases and the state of the sports collectible market contributed to projections that the auction could set a new overall price record for the sale of a T206 Honus Wagner. This is when Gretzky approached the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) company to grade the card, resulting in the aforementioned PSA 8 NM-MT grading. That's what happened in August of last year, when one sold at an auction for $6.6 million, setting the record for the most expensive sports card of all time. You can learn more about this particular card here. )[40], In 1987, Mastro sold the Gretzky T206 Wagner to Jim Copeland, a San Luis Obispo, California, sporting-goods chain owner, for $110,000. [56] The anonymous collector was later revealed to be Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick. The police launched an investigation, but found no evidence of wrongdoing. When it came time for that card to come out, it wasn't that he wasn't paid. The card was sent all across the United States, as part of Walmart's plan to rejuvenate the baseball card market. Thank you for your response. Supply of the Honus Wagner card is minimal, however. Real vs. Not So Real: Tips on Authenticating T206 Cards T206 Honus Wagner Baseball Card: The Most Expensive Baseball Card Ever Ray personally stated that Mastro might have been doing this to prevent others from trying to trace the card. These individuals had to wire a $100,000 deposit to iEscrow.com in order to be pre-approved to make bids for the card. Honus Wagner's baseball card in the T206 series is one of the most coveted of its kind. He didn't want kids to have to buy tobacco to get his card. The Trout and the Mantle were just two in a slew of record or notable sales that also included a $5.2 million LeBron James card (which set a mark in April for a basketball card) and a $3.75 million Wayne Gretzky card (in June, a new peak for a hockey card). [69] Cobb and Edwards also have alleged that they have been dismissed because they are inner city black men in a hobby that has been dominated by successful white men. Learn more - eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in a new window or tab. As from the description from the. One particular T206 Honus Wagner owned by John Cobb and Ray Edwards has attracted media controversy over its authenticity. Although not quite as valuable as the previously mentioned Gretzky and Jumbo Wagners, this card is still impressively expensive considering even in poor condition it has sold for six figures!