World Record $3.12 Million for T206 Honus Wagner Baseball Card
By Ryan Cracknell | Hobby Editor
The story of the most famous — and valuable — baseball card in the world continues to be told. The 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner set a new world record price for a baseball card, selling for $3.12 million through Goldin Auctions. The price includes the Buyers Premium. This breaks the old record of $2.8 million, which was paid for a different copy of the card in 2007.
Known as the “Jumbo Wagner,” the card is graded a PSA 5, making it one of the top-condition copies of the card. And now that the infamous Gretzky Wagner is confirmed as being trimmed, many will argue this is the best version of the card. The record price certainly reflects that.
Widely regarded as the Holy Grail of baseball cards, the T206 Honus Wagner has set the record price for a baseball card several times over. And for good reason. Over the past century, the story and lore have become just as important as the card itself. No matter the condition, if a T206 Wagner is authentic, it commands huge prices. The best copies fetch millions.
The record-breaking Jumbo Wagner gets its name for being slightly larger than typical 1909-11 T206 cards. It measure 1 7/16″ by 2 11/16″. Most T206 cards are 2 5/8″ in height. Because of mis-cut, which is noted in PSA’s grade, the card has thicker borders. This card surface in the mid 1970s. After the original owner from Vermont passed away, it was sold by his daughter. It changed hands a couple of times in the decade that followed before surfacing again in 2008. The Jumbo Wagner last sold in 2013 for $2.1 million.
The previous record price of $2.8 million came as a result of a private sale of the PSA 8 copy of the card once owned by Wayne Gretzky. The buyer was Arizona Diamondbacks owner, Ken Kendrick. The Gretzky Wagner was opened rumored to have been trimmed and surrounded in controversy.
That was finally confirmed in 2013 when Bill Mastro, who was involved extensively in the card’s sales history, acknowledged his part in trimming the card’s edges. The admission came as part of a plea bargain stemming from mail fraud charges. Despite this, it’s possible that the Gretzky Wagner could one day reclaim the record if it’s put back on the market simply because of its infamous history.
But that’s ultimately speculation because Kendrick has shown no interest of selling. So, for now at least, the “Jumbo” T206 Honus Wagner is king.
Comments? Questions? Contact Ryan Cracknell on Twitter @tradercracks.
I have one of those cards Honus Wagner one of Sherry Magie and Eddie plank
I just don’t get it…if I had $3 million, and if I was a Honus Wagner fan or vintage collector, I still would not own it as no card should bring more than the price of a nice car or college tuition. So much more good could be done in this world with that kind of money.
kerry,
Though I agree with your underlying philosophy….the $3.12 million works out to 0.312% of a billionaires 1st billion……the same as paying $312 for a card if you make $100,000 a year. I wouldn’t buy a card for that much money, but then again, I wouldn’t pay that much for a house either.
Its a great looking card ( I’ve seen one in person ) and as a piece of “art” / history, would make a nice piece to have in your collection……
That same card is going to do nothing but go up in value. If you have the money , more power to ya ! It’s an investment and obviously a good one , from the original 1.2 million just a few short years ago to 3.1 million now is an insane price increase for that short of a period is proof enough. Wish I could find one !!!
I have a Honus Wagner Broad Leaf Cigarettes Base Ball Series 350 Subjects card and a Ty Cobb, Detroit Polar Bear Scrap Tobacco card. No clue as to their authenticity how or where can I send them for grading?
Thanks,
Troy
Grading info can be found at: http://beckett.com/grading
In the yellow menu bar at the top, there’s an FAQ and a link to contact members of the grading team as well.
I have a Honus Wagner T206 card
how do i get it graded
Beckett Grading info can be found here: http://beckett.com/grading
I think the Jumbo Honus Wagner featured in this article should be regarded as the most coveted Wagner over the Gretzy psa 8 due to the card being in it’s original form. As everyone knows, the Gretzky Wagner was trimmed. Given that this auction for the jumbo set a new record, it may mean that the market agrees with me that this is the finest Wagner. However, I am sure it is only a matter of time until the PSA 8 Gretzsky goes for $4M plus!
I want one.I will buy one for 1 cent and sell it for 10 trillion dollars
I have 2 Honus Wagner cards I would like to have checked out I would like for somebody to contact me as soon as possible
Are you looking to see if the items are reprints?
Seems like they should just trim the Jumbo Wagner and submit it for grading.
I got all or any card you can name even ones that don’t exsist.I got original I traved time set me and friends a path for a miracal.something I can prove.name your card I’ll name a song.then treat my friends with respect after all the land belongs to me now.I traded a base ball card for it after we got merried. Anyway let’s sell some base ball cards I got the real ones I was ther these cards have been turned on .with my eye and +and- touch.
I have a Honus Wagner ,2 Sherry Magee ,Lewis Boston an Eddie Plank tobacco cards..
Yes. I have a set of baseball cards called baseball immortals. 1936. It has babe ruth and honus Wagner loud gehrig. Is it worth anything value
@Chad – The price guide is available here (subscription required): https://www.beckett.com/online-price-guide
Phillies Joe….just an FYI…..a billionaire rarely makes a billion dollars per year. It means their total accumulated value is over $1B. Terrible example