Iconic Cards and Cultural Shifts
As baseball cards evolved from novelty items to serious collectables, few have reached the legendary status of the T206 Honus Wagner.
Honus Wagner (NBHOF, 1936)
“Source: National Baseball Hall of Fame”
Wagner T206 Card (1909)
“Source: National Baseball Hall of Fame”
American Tobacco Company factory, circa 1926.
“Source: NCpedia”
Produced in 1909 by the American Tobacco Company, the card features a headshot of the Hall of Fame shortstop. Wagner reportedly objected to his image being used to promote tobacco, especially due to the cards being so popular with children, but despite his protest the card was briefly printed before being pulled from circulation. No one knows how many of these cards exist for sure, as historians have guessed anywhere between 25 to 200.
Over the decades, the T206 Wagner has become one of the rarest and most valuable collectables in the world. The most famous example is the “McNall/Gretzky Wagner,” once owned by former Los Angeles Kings owner, Bruce McNall and hockey legend, Wayne Gretzky. It sold for $451,000 in 1991 and again in 2011 for $2.5 million, however, its record was later surpassed…
Bruce McNall and Wayne Gretzky (1991)
“Source: Worth Point”
Mike Trout (MLB, 2011-Present) 2009 Bowman Chrome Prospects Card.
“Source: Beckett”
Mickey Mantle (NBHOF, 1974) 1952 Topps Card.
“Source: “Heritage Auctions”