Honus Wagner was a legendary baseball player who is generally considered one of the finest all-around players in the history of National League baseball, and for some, the greatest shortstop in baseball history. So, nothing surprising, every time a rare Honus Wagner baseball card hits the market, card collectors from around the world hope to grab it. And, the prices for this sport’s most famous collectibles are whopping. This time, one of the rarest baseball cards of all, a 1909-11 Honus Wagner, dubbed the “Holy Grail” of sports memorabilia, was sold on Saturday for a record $2.1 million, according to Goldin Auctions, which oversaw the bidding.
The card, originally released by the American Tobacco Co., was the highlight of Goldin Auctions’ April 5th showcase where it was sold for $500,000 more than the $1.6 million the same card was purchased for in 2008.
The buyer of the card is a wealthy businessman, who wishes to remain anonymous.
The card is part of the T206 set issued from 1909 to 1911 in different brands of cigarette and loose tobacco packs by the American Tobacco Company. The card which was described as the “Jumbo” Wagner because its edges are 1/16 inches bigger than standard cards is one of 44 Honus Wagners that have been authenticated from the set.
The $2.1 million is the highest amount ever paid for a baseball card in a public auction. A similar Wagner card in mint condition was bought for $2.8 million in a private sale in 2007, reportedly making it the most ever paid for a baseball card.
