The History of the T206 Honus Wagner Card
Key Takeaways
- The 1909 Honus Wagner card was part of a set that came with ATC (American Tobacco Company) cigarette packs.
- When Wagner objected to being included, his card was quickly removed from circulation.
- There are believed to be 50-60 in existence.
- The card sold for $7.25 million in 2022.
Famously known as the “Mona Lisa of baseball cards,” the T206 Honus Wagner is an iconic baseball artifact and a classic slice of Americana.
Although its origin story is murky, there’s no denying that this legendary card is among the most elusive and coveted holy grails ever put to cardboard.
In spite of its SGC 2 grade, one fetched a whopping $7.25 million in a private sale in 2022, skyrocketing past the previous high of $6.6 million. Although versions with higher grades exist, the exorbitant price tag was largely due to the card’s clean history of ownership and eye appeal.
Join us as we explore the fascinating history behind this world-renowned card.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest graded T206 Honus Wagner card?
The highest graded example is a PSA 8 (Near Mint-Mint) card previously owned by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.
Controversy surrounds the card, as it’s believed to have been professionally trimmed. However, the PSA (Professional Sports Authenticators) doesn’t change grades retroactively, so the grade remains.
What does T206 stand for?
The set actually wasn’t named until 1939. Jefferson Burdick, known as the “father of card collecting,” coined the set’s name. The “T” stands for Tobacco. The “206” refers to the 206th set in his cataloging system.
What is the population of Honus Wagner T206 cards?
The exact figure is debated widely, but it’s believed that there are 50-60 in existence. Of course, many have been lost to time.
A Brief Introduction to the 1909 Honus Wagner Card
Honus Wagner was the star shortstop of the Pittsburgh Pirates and one of the first baseball players to join the Hall of Fame.
Cards from the T206 set were originally inserted into American Tobacco Company packs of cigarettes as promos. The lithographs were visually stunning and have proven to age beautifully.
Honus Wagner Objects to the Card’s Release
Here’s where things get interesting. The Honus Wagner T206 was hastily removed from circulation after he objected to his image being used in the marketing campaign. Exactly why remains a mystery. Let’s explore the theories.
1. Association With the Tobacco Industry
The most common theory is that Wagner preferred not to be connected with the tobacco industry. However, the strange thing is that he was known to enjoy cigars and chewing tobacco!
Not only was Wagner himself a tobacco consumer, but his name and likeness had already been used to advertise tobacco products.
Fascinatingly, Wagner even appeared in a newspaper ad for Murad cigarettes that very same year during the 1909 World Series. So, the T206 Honus Wagner card being included with cigarettes wasn't out of his wheelhouse.
Further adding to the mystery, there were even two cigars named after him: the Hans Wagner 10-Cent Cigar from Henry Reccius and the Hans Wagner brand from Freeman Cigar Co.
2. Objection to Cigarettes
Another theory is that the 1909 Honus Wagner card was pulled because he had a distaste for cigarettes in particular. At the time, cigarettes were often viewed poorly compared to pipe tobacco and cigars.
And, according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ owner Barney Dreyfuss and player-manager Fred Clarke both detested cigarettes, which may have influenced Wagner’s opinion.
3. Protecting Underage Collectors
A prevalent theory is that the T206 Honus Wagner may have been removed from circulation because there was talk about banning minors from buying cigarettes, and Wagner didn’t want underage collectors to buy them to obtain sports cards.
4. Compensation Complications
Some believe it was a matter of money. However, when sportswriter John Gruber went to get Wagner’s permission to use his likeness, Wagner famously rejected the contract and gave him letter that said:
“I don’t want my picture in cigarettes, but I don’t want you to lose $10, so I’m enclosing check for that sum.”
Take Your Collection to the Next Level
The 1909 T206 Honus Wagner card is an iconic piece of sports history, but it’s not the only one! Explore our baseball card boxes, because you never know when you might pull the next holy grail. Chase the hits at the ultimate sports card store!