[57], Shortly after Gretzky's 1991 purchase, previously ignored allegations that the card had once been subject to alteration flared up again. Mastro has told colleagues in the memorabilia circuit that he purchased the card from a printer, which was not Ray's profession. [66], The Honus Wagner card was first reissued by Topps in 2002, with variations on its background color. [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. Rosie It sounds most definitely like a reprint if it has that story on the back. My sentiments exactly gentlemen..Very very unkikely if not a guarantee that not a single card of the 10 mentioned here are authentic. [25] This theory has its flaws, however, since Wagner sent Gruber a check for $10 to compensate him for the fee ATC would have paid him if Wagner had given permission to create his baseball card. David Thompson (ID 39461) The best place to start would be to go to your nearest shop, at least to get a ballpark figure based on condition. Let's look at some price estimates of the T206 Wagner at various condition levels as graded by Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA) on a 1 to 10 scale. REA launched the online auction on July 23, with bidding scheduled to conclude on August 15. A slightly-damaged T206 Wagner card surfaced earlier this year when a man left it to the. [43] Sotheby's advertised Copeland's items as the "Copeland Collection of Important Baseball Cards and Sports Memorabilia" to attract hobbyists and other potential clients. "The T-206 is one of the reasons I do what I do," Goldin concluded. And perhaps no card is as revered as a T206 Honus Wagner. The T206 Honus Wagner baseball card depicts the Pittsburgh Pirates' Honus Wagner, known as "The Flying Dutchman, a dead-ball era baseball player who is widely considered to be one of the best players of all time. And it expects to see the record obliterated. And from there, who knows? T206 Honus Wagner Baseball Card: The Most Expensive Baseball Card Ever 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. Step By Step Guide To Spotting a Fake T206 Card These dimensions far exceed the standard size for a T206 baseball card, virtually preserving a Near Mint example within its boundaries. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 by Old Sports Cards, LLC, Wagner was upset at the company for using his likeness without sufficiently compensating him, Wagner did not want his image associated with tobacco and smoking since these cards usually found their way into the hands of kids. Thanks for contacting us. A fake T206 Honus Wagner card in a fake 'basement grading' deceitful card holder. Ten Cheap Honus Wagner Cards For Collectors On A Budget 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. These individuals had to wire a $100,000 deposit to iEscrow.com in order to be pre-approved to make bids for the card. The 1909-1911 T206 White Border set is the most valuable collection in the history of trading cards. The T206 Honus Wagner card is one of the most valuable cards in the hobby. In 1991, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and then owner of the Los Angeles Kings, Bill McNall, purchased the card for $451,000. The T206 Honus Wagner card is not the oldest card ever. Free shipping for many products! Wagner played baseball from 1897 to 1917. Examining Font In Player's Name On Front Of T206 Card One of the first areas to examine when authenticating a T206 card is the front text area where the player's last name and team name are located on the bottom of the card. In April, 2011, the identity of the buyer was revealed to be Ken Kendrick, managing general partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks. On August 3, 2022, a SGC Grade 2 T206 Honus Wagner card sold for $7.25 million in a private sale, breaking the record for the most expensive card. Wagner refused to allow production of his baseball card to continue, either because he did not want children to buy cigarette packs to get his card, or because he wanted more compensation from the ATC. help!!! [61] In 2013, Mastro pleaded guilty, having entered into a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, and admitted to trimming the Honus Wagner card in the mid-1980s to increase its value. The T206 set itself is the most popular pre-War baseball card set in the hobby. 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. The card is a T206 Honus Wagner -- one of the move coveted sports cards on the planet -- that dates back to 1909. [66] The card ultimately sold for $2,105,770.50, including the buyer's premium, a record price for a baseball card in a public auction. "[73] Cobbs and Edwards later went to an Ohio paper industry consultant who confirmed that the card was from 1909. United States v. American Tobacco Company, The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, "Holy Grail: The T206 Honus Wagner (ESPN Films' 30 For 30 Shorts)", "Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick reveals $2.8 million secret Honus Wagner card", "Honus Wagner baseball card sells for new record $3.12 million", "1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card sells for record $5.2 million", "Honus Wagner Card Sells For $6.6 Million, The Third Record Baseball Card Sale In A Year", "Bill Mastro admits cutting T206 Honus Wagner card, pleads guilty to mail fraud", "Wagner A Wonder: One Player In Game Who Is Not Money Mad", "eBay invokes new rules for baseball card auction", "World Record of $2.8 Million Paid for Famed T206 Honus Wagner Baseball Card", "Grantland's 30 for 30 series examines The Card - the T206 Honus Wagner", "Wagner's Wild Card: Mystery has surrounded Honus T206 since 1909", "Baseball's Card of Cards Is Up for Grabs", "Legendary T206 Honus Wagner Baseball Trading Card for Sale on eBay", "T206 Honus Wagner Sold on eBay for $1.265 Million;", "Honus Wagner card sold for $2.35 million", "Honus Wagner card sells for record $2.8 million", "Memorabilia dealer admits to altering famed $2.8 million Honus Wagner card", "Sports memorabilia king Bill Mastro indicted on fraud charges", "Bill Mastro Honus Wagner Altered: Dealer Cops To Doctoring Most Valuable Baseball Card Ever Sold", "Judge tosses out Mastro's plea deal again", "Mastro Released from Federal Prison Camp", "Goldin Auctions Winter 2013 Auction Offers The Rare Chance To Own One Of Only Three 1909 Honus Wagner T206 Graded Excellent 5 Or Higher By PSA", "A Q&A About the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Baseball Card Collection", "Nuns cash in big on sale of Honus Wagner T-206 card", "Christmas comes early, thanks to a Haddonfield physician", "Nuns' Honus Wagner card goes to new buyer", "Rally Rd. By last count, there have been 57 known examples. [28], In 1991, National Hockey League player Wayne Gretzky purchased a mint condition 1909 T206 Honus Wager baseball card, with a Piedmont cigarette brand back, at a Sotheby's auction. In a 2005 interview, McNall stated his "philosophy was, if you buy something that is absolutely the best in the world, you'd be okay because there is always another buyer for something at the top end. Wagner was offered a $20,000 contract by the Chicago White Sox, but turned it down and continued to play with the Pirates. A T206 Wagner owned by renowned collector Frank Nagy sold for $456,000 in December 2005, through Mastro's auction company. He hit .328 for his career in 2,794 games. 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). See questions and answers Very small. [44] Pre-auction estimates placed Copeland's T206 Honus Wagner at a price of $114,000. "[72], Card Collector Services graded the card and officially ruled that it was indeed a reprint. I have a 206 Tobacco Card of Honus Wagner, hello i have a honus wagner tobacco card excellent condition how do i find out if its the real deal.it matches every other one from the front but the back of mine is printed in red please reply. This card has not changed hands as many times as some other Wagners but it has still sold for significant amounts each time: Charlie Sheen is a notoriously huge baseball fan and over the years he has accumulated quite a collection of different cards and memorabilia, including this Honus Wagner card in poor condition graded PSA 1. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2008-2023 The Cardboard Connection. In many cases going to a collector one would worry they might undervalue with the hope of buying the collection. The old record price for a T206 Wagner was $3.75 million, set in May. This would account for its almost impossible-to-believe Near Mint condition. All Items matching: 2022 Topps 206 - Honus Wagner I am new to this. The T206 Honus Wagner card is quite simply in a league of its own and a mere pipe dream for millions of collectors. [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. eBay officials decided to remove the listing the day before the auction was scheduled to begin. [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. I imagine theyd be very eager to grade your card. This particular T206 Honus Wagner stands out from other known examples and therefore gives it placement as a top-notch specimen. In 2004, a PSA PR-FR-1 Wagner sold for $109,638. A T206 Wagner Honus Wagner baseball card sold for $6.606 million, which includes a 20% buyer's premium, early Monday morning, shattering the record for highest-selling sports card of all time . Then, if a second dealer is an option, thats a good way to compare. Shop COMC's extensive selection of all items matching: 2022 topps 206 - honus wagner. In 1939, for instance, a pioneering collector named Jefferson Burdick, who incidentally coined the T206 name for the series, valued the card at $50 (roughly $1,000 today, accounting for inflation); most other cards in his catalog were listed for less than $1. [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. The T206 Honus Wagner is rare and defies traditional grading standards. In February, 2007, Siegel then sold the card privately to an anonymous collector for $2.35 million. I know we're all dealing with inflation but . And finally, we get to. 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. He wanted to teach kids good sportsmanship. The 1909-11 T206 card was graded in Good 2 condition on a scale of 1 to 10 from Sportscard Guaranty Corp (SGC). They had to shut down the sale, however, because Connelly only agreed to appraise the card if his report was printed in its entirety at the eBay card listing. These two columns alone will help you identify reprints of T206s and all other cards, especially Pre-WWII cards. The Baseball 100: No. 12, Honus Wagner - The Athletic One particular T206 Honus Wagner of suspect provenance is the example owned by John Cobb and Ray Edwards of Cincinnati. Not all Honus Wagner baseball cards have been professionally graded by PSA or SGC. [38], After the transaction was completed, Mastro went back to his car and showed the Gretzky T206 Wagner to Lifson. 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. This page was last edited on 21 April 2023, at 22:41. We've received your submission. The exact reason for this has become something of legend, but it has been widely accepted to be one of two scenarios. As a result, a number of previously interested collectors decided not to bid for the card at the auction the next day. To give you an idea, here are four of the most popular cards from the sets and their respective populations (number of them graded) by PSA currently: So, that should give you a good picture of how scarce Wagner's card is relative to others in the set. An IPS expert determined that the card dated back to 1910, which would be consistent to the time period when the card was distributed. [10] During the presidency of "trust-buster" Theodore Roosevelt, the ATC was subjected to legal action from the government, in hopes of shutting down the monopoly in the industry. The technical grade includes the MC qualifier. Rare Honus Wagner baseball card sells for record $6.6 million at It is in excellent condition. Meanwhile, a number of card collectors who doubted the card contacted eBay and demanded that the card's listing on the website be removed. Only two T206 Honus Wagner cards featuring the Piedmont cigarette brand on the back of the card exist today. What is the best, fairest way to get the values of an older, 50/60 yr, card collection. The front of all T206 series cards, including the Wagner card, displayed a lithograph of the player[15] created by a multi-stage printing process in which a number of colors were printed on top of each other to create a lithograph with the appropriate design. Only time will tell if other examples are waiting to be discovered. That looks like an even better bargain after a 2009 Mike Trout rookie card set a baseball card record at $3.9 million last August and a 1952 Mickey Mantle beat it with a $5.2 million sale price in January. Why? Gidwitz sold the T206 Honus Wagner in 2000, through Robert Edward Auctions, to card collector Brian Siegel for a record-setting $1.27 million. The expert ruled that the "paper stock was consistent with the time that card would have been made." There's really no way of knowing for certain. 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! Half a Honus. [11] Two years later, the ATC was broken up into several major companies as part of the United States Supreme Court ruling in United States v. American Tobacco Company, 221 U.S. 106 (1911). #Shortstops: A Rarer Honus Wagner Card He threatened to seek legal action against ATC if they went ahead and distributed his baseball card. Written by Michael O'Keeffe of the New York Daily News, The Card provides a detailed account of the origins of the T206 Honus Wagner baseball card, its rise to hobby prominence, and some of the less-than-noble events surrounding the card's provenance in the last several years. [52] On July 15, the card was sold to Brian Seigel, a collector from California, for $1.265 million (equivalent to $1.991million in 2021). 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.. Obviously, we need to get to $5 million before we can get to $6 million, before we can get to $7 million, says REA president Brian Dwyer, but based on the early activity, based on the reception and the interest that were seeing, we do believe that theres going to be significant interest as the auction progresses.. Stock photo shown. Torn Up Over a Honus Wagner Baseball Card - Antique Trader Hughes admitted to knowing that the card had been altered when he graded it. Source PropertyRoom.com's trusted merchant, Sports Collectibles, presents this online auction for the above 1910 T-206 Honus Wagner - Wagner Estate, CMG Reprint Card. Courtesy SCP Auctions The damaged Wagner card sold at auction recently for $475,960. I think some of yall are telling fables.. Guaranteed not one of them is authentic. The card was given this designation by PSA due to its oversized nature. Votto back with Reds after rehab . The card long had a controversial past, as some speculate that it was once altered, most likely having been trimmed or cut from an undistributed sheet. your purchase may be eligible for eBay Money Back Guarantee if the return request is made within 14 days from delivery. Honus Wagner Cards 12 Fast Facts About the Honus Wagner T206 Card The T206 Honus Wagner is considered to be the Holy Grail of all trading cards. [49] Treat Entertainment and Walmart gave the card to Gibbs a few weeks later at a Walmart store in Miramar, Florida. [20] He had appeared on advertisements for a number of other products such as chewing gum, gunpowder, and soft drinks. Authentic versions have a tobacco ad on the back. 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. Despite being pulled from production, several variations of the card were printed. After spending hours unsuccessfully trying to contact Gibbs, King's staff finally got through to her phone, and informed Gibbs of her prize. Most collectors equate Honus Wagner with his T206 card and aren't aware of his playing day and later year cards that can fit into some collector budgets. 1? [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. That blew away the previous. We have 100's of thousands of cards, comics, records, coins, posters, and other collectiblesso check back often. SCG 3 Honus Wagner card could set new record at Robert Edward Auctions Honus Wagner is the highlight of this 11-card set issued by American Caramel that honors the Pittsburg (how the city's name is spelled on the cards) Pirates 1909 team that defeated the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. [37], The circumstances regarding how Ray came into possession of the Gretzky T206 Wagner have been shrouded in mystery. Hopefully after reading through this you have a further appreciation for the rarity and value of this notorious baseball card. But the centering and overall eye appeal of the card are still fantastic. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Card is in Near Mint to Mint condition. Several of the authentic cards have fetched hundreds of thousands of dollars in auctions regardless of their condition. The T206 Honus Wagner card has long been viewed by collectors as the "Mona Lisa" of sports cards. [74], A few months after the sale, Edwards asked Connelly if he would accept the card for his auction. In later years, Mastro Auctions was the subject of an FBI investigation for using unscrupulous methods such as card doctoring, price-fixing and shill bidding to increase profits. 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. [71] When Cobb and Edwards tried to sell the card on eBay in 2002, an attorney from Newport, Kentucky (part of the Cincinnati metro) filed a police report against the two men because he believed the card was a reprint that was stolen from his office months earlier. PSA is considered to be the benchmark in the vintage card grading industry so collectors put heavy premiums on their graded cards. Widely considered the most valuable baseball card of all-time, the T206 Honus Wagner has been the subject of great debate and, at times, controversy. [79] The card came with her brother's handwritten note: "Although damaged, the value of this baseball card should increase exponentially throughout the 21st century! As you can see, every time the card has sold, the value has risen significantly. The Honus Wagner T206 is the sports card GOAT, and it always will be Some of the real cards have fetched hundreds of thousands of dollars in auctions. 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. Your inbox approves RB enters top 10 Men's basketball . Then it has on the back the story about him not wanting his name associated with tobacco. Beckett Graded Card Investor and Price Guide, Vol. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1992 Baseball Silver Card 1oz.
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