Latest news with #T206
Forbes
01-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Rare 1909 Honus Wagner Card Could Break Records At Auction
The T206 Honus Wagner card issued but recalled by the American Tobacco Company in 1909 is worth ... More millions because of its scarcity. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File) A rare Honus Wagner card has a chance to break its former record as the most expensive ever printed. So says Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of the Goldin auction house that is now conducting an online auction featuring one of few surviving T206 Wagner cards from a 1909 American Tobacco Company set. 'This card, along with our expert curation of storied vintage collectibles, is one of the most significant sports collectibles to ever hit the auction block,' Goldin said. It is also one of the most valuable – especially because this is the first time in more than three years that a numerically-graded T206 Wagner is appearing in public auction. Starting point for the bidding began at $3 million. The price of the Wagner T206, which originally cost a few pennies, was listed at $50 in a 1933 edition of The American Card Catalog by pioneering hobbyist Jefferson Burdick. An off-center version was once owned by hockey great Wayne Gretzky, who teamed with Bruce McNall to buy it for $451,000 in 1991, while Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick bought one in 2011 for $2.8 million. When a T206 Wagner went for $7.25 million on Aug. 4, 2022, it became the most expensive piece of cardboard gold ever sold – until a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card in mint condition brought $12.6 million just weeks later, on Aug. 28, 2022, to recapture the top of the memorabilia list. A mint Mickey Mantle issued by Topps in 1952 brought a card-record $12.6 million at auction in 2022. ... More (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Then a Babe Ruth jersey believed to be worn when he 'called his shot' before a home run for the Yankees in the 1932 World Series brought $24.1 million at an auction held in August 2024. None of those pieces is as old – or as scarce – as the T206 Wagner. Originally produced as part of a trading card set by American Tobacco, the card became valuable after it became scarce – the result of Wagner's wrath at the tobacco company because he abhorred using his image to promote smoking among minors who might see it. With more than a century since publication and multiple owners involved, there are no T206 Wagners in mint condition, Goldin said. But he noted that this one is close. The version at auction today is graded PSA PR-FR 1 because of its rich color and clear, well-centered portrait. Only 60 such Wagner cards are believed to exist, he said. Dubbed 'the Connecticut Wagner' because it first surfaced at a Connecticut show in 1985, the card did not reappear until it went on display at a Detroit Institute of the Arts show in 2010. Widely considered 'the Holy Grail' of sports cards, the T206 has never experienced a market value correction. Sold for $282,000 in 2010, the last public sale of a PSA 1 Wagner 12 years later earned $3,137,000, an increase of an astronomical 1,012%. During that same time span, the Dow Jones increased by 246%, the S & P by 307% , and the NASDAQ by 586%. Hall of Fame shortstop Honus Wagner of the Pittsburgh Pirates was one of five players in the charter ... More election class of the Baseball Hall of Fame. (Photo by) Goldin, who launched his firm in 2012, has sold more than $2 billion in pop culture products ranging from bats, balls, and baseball cards to game-used jackets, jerseys, and caps. His company has surpassed $1 billion in sales of products placed into auction. The firm, which has an international reputation for selling high-end sports and entertainment memorabilia, is the official auction partner of the Major League Baseball Players Association, Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. It has more than 100 employees and is based in Runnemede, NJ. When time permits, the 59-year-old Goldin roots for the closest major-league team, the Philadelphia Phillies. Goldin's Spring Vintage Elite Auction, one of the major events on its annual auction calendar, opened May 28 and runs through June 9. .
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NBA Cards Coming to Topps this Fall, Lewis Hamilton Exclusive with Fanatics
Hey Collectors, The sports card industry came together earlier this week in Atlanta for the 2025 Topps Industry Conference, and the team at Topps made a bunch of news, including the announcement that they'll take over the NBA license starting in October . Advertisement The next major event on the sports card calendar? Fanatics Fest, which is returning to NYC June 16th-23rd. The Mantel team will be there, and we just announced we'll be partnering with Bleecker Trading on events, giveaways, content and more, so stay tuned for some exciting updates . As tariffs raise the cost of imported goods, investors are turning to domestic alternatives — notably, trading cards, per an op-ed from Alt CEO Leore Avidar and Alt (and Mantel) investor, Alexis Ohanian. Once dismissed as mere hobbies, Pokémon and sports collectibles are now recognized as viable financial assets, with a $15B market value and growing credibility. The market's rise is fueled by nostalgia, savvy data-driven investing, and a desire for assets immune to global supply chain volatility. Alt has filed a lawsuit against former auction house PWCC (now owned by Fanatics), alleging fraud and breach of auctioneer duties. The lawsuit claims PWCC orchestrated a widespread shill bidding scheme to artificially inflate auction prices for high-value sports cards. Alt estimates its losses at $13.7M due to PWCC's actions, though PWCC called the lawsuit baseless and lacking evidence. This lawsuit follows a previous eBay suspension of PWCC for shill bidding in 2021, and concerns auctions involving high-profile cards like Patrick Mahomes' and Kobe Bryant's rookie cards. Lewis Hamilton officially opens the brand-new flagship Fanatics Collectibles store on Regent Street in London. Picture date: Friday April 25, 2025. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images) (Bradley Collyer - PA Images via Getty Images) Lewis Hamilton has signed a multi-year trading card and memorabilia partnership with Fanatics Collectibles. The deal includes autograph exclusivity and will feature premium items like 'relic' cards containing race-worn gear. Hamilton helped launch Fanatics' new flagship store in London last week, and shared that he owns around 400 race-worn helmets. With F1's existing Topps deal, this partnership positions Hamilton as a high-end draw — fitting, given that one of his 2020 Topps cards sold for a record $900K, the most ever for an F1 card. A restored T206 Honus Wagner card sold for $1.98M at Mile High Card Company—just $12K more than its 2023 sale, sparking concern in the hobby. While technically not a loss, its Compound Annual Growth Rate dropped to just 0.37%, a stark contrast to the 17–50% CAGR of other recent Wagner sales. Some speculate the market is cooling or that the sale timing (with another, better-condition Wagner set to hit the market) diluted demand. While one sale doesn't confirm a trend, this result challenges the long-held belief that Wagners are bulletproof investments. Nike's latest release, the Air Force 1 'Dirty Triple White,' blends two sneaker culture factions—those who want a fresh pair at all times and those who prefer a worn-in look. This version comes pre-distressed, with a sheer layer over the shoe that wears away over time to reveal a clean AF1. The shoe also features a unique 'toothproof' attachment, allowing wearers to start the process of un-distressing immediately. The shoe will be released on the SNKRS app next week for $130. Your collection deserves a community. Download Mantel today.
Newsweek
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Man Finds Rare Baseball Cards in Thrift Store, Then Learns Value: 'Shaking'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In a story straight out of every collector's dream, Christopher Kidney of Flemingsburg, Kentucky, struck gold at his local Goodwill. What started as a routine visit turned into a jackpot of rare sports memorabilia—all for under $20. Among his remarkable finds: autographed cards from baseball legends including CC Sabathia, Don Mattingly, and Chuck Knoblauch, as well as a signed Super Bowl XLII card from New York Giants hero Plaxico Burress. Also among the haul is a baseball signed by Yogi Berra, the nickname of catcher Lawrence Peter Berra, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972. "I have a good eye for sports memorabilia," Kidney told Newsweek. "When I saw the names on the cards, I could tell they were real based on the brand." And his instincts were right—the collection has already sold privately for over $500 to buyers who chose to remain anonymous. Pictures of the baseball memorabilia, including classic cards and a signed baseball. Pictures of the baseball memorabilia, including classic cards and a signed baseball. MagicianHappy7098/Reddit Baseball trading cards appeared in the late 19th century, with the earliest known baseball cards appearing in the 1860s. They became yet more widespread in the early 1900s, especially with the introduction of the T206 set by the American Tobacco Company between 1909 and 1911. Read more Woman in disbelief after realizing what Goodwill find was—"Jaws dropped" Woman in disbelief after realizing what Goodwill find was—"Jaws dropped" The hobby peaked in the 1980s when card collecting became more mainstream and new companies entered the market. While baseball trading cards aren't as popular today as they once were, they are still loved by passionate collectors like Kidney. Kidney was quick to give credit where it's due: "It's very important to me that I give credit to my family—my beloved wife Ashley—and my best friends Brad and Christopher Davisson." Kidney frequently shares his discoveries on Reddit where they gain plenty of attention. He shared his incredible find to the site earlier this month, in a post caption: "Incredible, still shaking." It amassed more than 1,500 upvote, while in the comments people were amazed. "Thank goodness your goodwill doesn't have an in-store appraiser (read: item Googler) that priced these at near-eBay prices," said one commenter. While another wrote: "My brother collects and sells sports memorabilia and he says to tell you he is both happy for you and very jealous! Congrats!!" "You should definitely go get those authenticated asap!" said another Redditor. Pictures of the baseball memorabilia. Part of the haul included autographed cards from baseball legends including CC Sabathia, Don Mattingly, and Chuck Knoblauch. Pictures of the baseball memorabilia. Part of the haul included autographed cards from baseball legends including CC Sabathia, Don Mattingly, and Chuck Knoblauch. MagicianHappy7098/Reddit As if that weren't enough, this isn't Kidney's first brush with Goodwill greatness. Earlier this month, he stumbled upon a signed 1949 book by baseball titan Honus Wagner—for just $1.59. "For $1.59, I found one of the greatest baseball players' signatures ever! I'm in shock," he said. "My grandpa, who passed three years ago, worked for the Reds, Giants, Cardinals, and other sports teams. I truly believe in some divine way I was meant to find this book." The baseball legend discoveries are far from the first thrift store finds to capture attention online. Earlier this month a woman shared a "creepy" find in her local thrift when she seemed to stumble on an ornament containing human ashes. While a New Jersey shopper found a painting for just $3.99 that had a sweet note attached that read: "Swarthmore College, Graduation 2020, Made with love, Dad."
