BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1905 HONUS WAGNER

The coveted 1905 Honus Wagner T206 baseball card is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and valuable trading cards in existence. For over a century, the legendary Wagner card has captivated collectors and generated headlines due to its striking rarity, historical significance, and astronomical prices it has sold for at auction.

Issued by the American Tobacco Company as part of its landmark T206 series, the Wagner card is one of the most difficult to find in mint condition. What makes the card so unique was that Wagner, a star shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the early 1900s, had objected to his likeness being used to market cigarettes. As a result, only a small number of the printed Wagner cards were released into circulation. Whether fewer than 60 or around 200 examples exist today in varying states of preservation has long been a source of debate among experts.

The rarity and mystique surrounding exactly how many were printed has driven the value of high-grade Wagner specimens to new heights over the decades. In the early 1950s, one of the finest known examples sold for $500. By 1991, a near-mint specimen fetched over $110,000 at auction. The record was shattered in 2016 when a PSA NM-MT 8 grade Wagner brought an astounding $3.12 million, making it the highest price ever paid for a baseball card at the time.

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Several factors contributed to Wagner’s reluctance to allow his likeness to be used. As a devout Catholic, he had moral objections to promoting tobacco products, which had already been linked to health issues. Wagner was also nearing the end of his Hall of Fame baseball career in the early 1900s and may not have wanted his image associated with cigarettes.

When the American Tobacco Company acquired rights from the National Baseball Commission in 1908 to feature players’ photos on its cigarette packs and inserts, Wagner is said to have refused to comply. As a result, his portrait was omitted from the T206 set, which featured other stars of the day like Christy Mathewson and Nap Lajoie. Only a small number of Wagner cards are believed to have been mistakenly printed before his objection was caught and stopped the presses.

The card stood out not just for its scarcity in the set, but also for Wagner’s imposing image on the front. Towering over the other players of that era, the fierce-looking “Wagner” was already establishing a legendary on-field reputation. His offensive and defensive prowess helped lead the Pirates to three straight National League pennants between 1901-1903. The shortstop batted over .300 for his career and was elected to the inaugural National Baseball Hall of Fame class in 1936.

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The first recorded sale of a Wagner card took place in the 1950s when a former tobacco salesman who had received several packs over 50 years prior sold one in worn condition for around $50. As interest in vintage cards grew throughout the 1960s-80s, higher grade specimens started to emerge from old collections and sell for thousands. The hobby exploded in the late 1980s, driving prices up exponentially.

In 1991, a PSA 2.5 grade Wagner was purchased for $110,000 by collector Jim Copeland. Widely considered a milestone, it was the first baseball card to break the $100,000 barrier. Prices continued to climb as the card achieved pop culture notoriety, appearing in movies and being profiled on TV shows. The card became so valuable that many experts questioned whether specimens still existed in the high grades needed to justify million-dollar price tags.

Those doubts were put to rest when collector Eric Litvin unveiled in 2016 that he had purchased what is considered the finest known Wagner for $2.8 million only months prior. The PSA NM-MT 8 card, which scored high marks for its stunning centering, sharpness of image, and vivid color, was then sent to public auction. Bidding wars ensued with an anonymous buyer winning it for a new record $3.12 million price. The sale cemented the Wagner’s status as the most coveted and expensive baseball card or trading card in the world.

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While the astronomical figures have caused some to question the card’s true value, for passionate collectors it remains an iconic piece of history, art, and a monument to one of baseball’s first true superstars. The allure of owning a rare piece of Honus Wagner memorabilia is as strong as ever. With so few high-grade specimens believed to remain, it seems inevitable the card will continue rewriting record books if more ever change hands. For enthusiasts, the Wagner will always be “The Holy Grail” that fuels the imagination and drives the hobby. Its legacy as the most prized card issued over a century ago is secure.

The 1905 Honus Wagner T206 card attained its legendary status due to a combination of historical rarity, Wagner’s playing career and refusal to endorse cigarettes, the small surviving population in high grades, and the astronomical auction prices it has achieved. Few other trading cards can rival its mystique as the most valuable and desired collectible in the industry after over 100 years in the hobby. As long as it remains one of the most difficult vintage cards to acquire, the Wagner is poised to retain its crown and fascination for collectors around the world.

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