The rarest baseball card in history was sold again, but in an unusual form.
A T206 Honus Wagner baseball card — regarded as one of the rarest and most iconic sports cards ever — was sold at an auction over the weekend. Instead of drawing millions of dollars, though, the card sold for only $475,960. That’s because half of the card is torn off, missing the left side of Wagner’s jaw and the left side of his body.
The compromised card is the first T206 Wagner card to sell for under a million dollars in a couple years. In August, a T206 Wagner set the record for most expensive sports card when it sold for $6.606 million at the Robert Edward Auctions.
$475,960: What someone paid for 60% of a T206 Honus Wagner tonight at @SCPAuctions pic.twitter.com/NBiDJ1CVeS
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 6, 2022
Wagner, who played in the major leagues from 1897 to 1917, is consistently ranked as the greatest shortstop of all time. The Pirates star was part of the inaugural Hall of Fame class in 1936, alongside Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson.
But it’s not Wagner’s greatness that has made this card so famous.
The card was initially issued in 1909 by the American Tobacco Company, but Wagner did not give permission to make cards with his name and image. However, the company had already begun production and between 50-75 T206 Wagners were in circulation, according to SPC Auctions’ website.
Most of the known Wagner cards are not in great condition, but even half a Wagner card is worth more than most other cards.
“Though slightly more than 50% of the card remains, in our opinion it is still more valuable than 90% of sports cards in existence,” reads the auction’s website.
Half a Honus. Still more valuable than 90% of sports cards. #thehobby #whodoyoucollect #honuswagner #T206Wagner pic.twitter.com/ctGI2GWjOY
— SCP Auctions (@SCPAuctions) February 6, 2022
• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.