Baseball cards were a big part of my childhood.
Like my father before me, I collected sports cards, trading some with friends, looking up the value in the latest Beckett magazine, and hoping that as they got older, they would increase in value.
Perhaps my most prized card was the 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck rookie card.
I owned lots of Griffey Jr. cards. He was my favorite player at the time, and I had dreams of his cards someday holding the value of an old Mickey Mantle trading card.
The problem is sports cards were overproduced, losing the value the much older cards still carry to this day.
One research article by Dave Sliepka suggests there could be over 1,000,000 of the famous '89 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck card.
Ken Griffey Jr.
While the card is legendary in pop culture, it's not legendary in value.
To truly carry the financial weight comparable to a rare piece of art, a card must be extremely old, in mint condition, and feature a great player.
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The "Holy Grail" of baseball cards is theT-206 Honus Wagner issued in 1909.
Reportedly, approximately 50 were ever made.
Today, very few exist, making it the most sought-after sports card in history.
Honus Wagner baseball card
It was created and distributed by the American Tobacco Company and camein a pack of cigarettes.
The 113-year-old card continues to make history.
This week, it was sold at an auction for a record $7.25 million, the highest price ever paid for a sports card.
If only my Ken Griffey Jr. card could net 0.1% of that, I'd make a cool $7,250.
Maybe we should all start looking through old attics like we're in an 80s movie.
In the hit 1985 movie "The Goonies",Sean Astin's character finds a treasure map in the attic.10 years ago in Defiance, Ohio,Karl Kissnerdidn't find a treasure map, he found a century-old baseball treasure...700 mint condition baseball cards featuring the likes of Hall of FamersTy Cobb,Cy Young, and yes,Honus Wagner.
Thetreasure wasn't in the kind of condition to sell for millions, but did sell for $566,132.
Famous baseball card of Honus Wagner
No one individual will take home a giant payday. According to theAssociated Press, the money will be divided evenly among 20 cousins. Hey, I wouldn't mind my cousin sending me a $28,306 check after finding buried treasure in my late Grandfather's attic.
LOOK: MLB history from the year you were born
Stacker compiled key moments from Major League Baseball's history over the past 100 years. Using a variety of sources from Major League Baseball (MLB) record books, the Baseball Hall of Fame, and audio and video from events, we've listed the iconic moments that shaped a sport and a nation. Read through to find out what happened in MLB history the year you were born.
30 famous people you might not know were college athletes
Stacker dug deep to find 30 celebrities who were previously college athletes. There are musicians, politicians, actors, writers, and reality TV stars. For some, an athletic career was a real, promising possibility that ultimately faded away due to injury or an alternate calling. Others scrapped their way onto a team and simply played for fun and the love of the sport. Read on to find out if your favorite actor, singer, or politician once sported a university jersey.
LOOK: 50 images of winning moments from sports history
Sometimes images are the best way to honor the figures we've lost. When tragedy swiftly reminds us that sports are far from the most consequential thing in life, we can still look back on an athlete's winning moment that felt larger than life, remaining grateful for their sacrifice on the court and bringing joy to millions.
Read on to explore the full collection of 50 images Stacker compiled showcasing various iconic winning moments in sports history. Covering achievements from a multitude of sports, these images represent stunning personal achievements, team championships, and athletic perseverance.
In my extensive experience with baseball card collecting, I can affirm that the fascination with these tiny pieces of sports history is deeply rooted. I remember the thrill of flipping through Beckett magazines, meticulously organizing my collection, and the undeniable excitement of discovering the value of a coveted card.
The mention of the 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck rookie card struck a chord with me. I, too, held aspirations of it becoming a valuable treasure in the future. However, I'm well aware of the overproduction era that plagued sports cards, diminishing their potential worth. Dave Sliepka's research, which estimates over a million copies of the '89 Griffey Jr. card, serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by collectors from that era.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck Rookie Card (1989):
- Iconic in pop culture but not in value due to overproduction.
- The dream of its value rivaling that of a Mickey Mantle card remains unfulfilled.
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T-206 Honus Wagner (1909):
- Dubbed the "Holy Grail" of baseball cards.
- Issued in 1909, with only around 50 cards ever made.
- Considered the most sought-after sports card in history.
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American Tobacco Company:
- Creator and distributor of the T-206 Honus Wagner card.
- The card was included in cigarette packs, reflecting a different era of marketing.
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Auction of Honus Wagner Card (2023):
- The 113-year-old card sold at auction for a record $7.25 million.
- Sets a new benchmark as the highest price ever paid for a sports card.
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Treasure Discovery in Defiance, Ohio (2013):
- Karl Kissner's discovery of 700 mint condition baseball cards in his late Grandfather's attic.
- Featured cards of Hall of Famers such as Ty Cobb, Cy Young, and Honus Wagner.
- The collection sold for $566,132, showcasing the potential value of hidden treasures.
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Distribution of Proceeds among Cousins:
- According to the Associated Press, the money from the attic treasure sale was evenly divided among 20 cousins.
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MLB History Moments:
- The article briefly references Stacker's compilation of key moments from MLB's history over the past 100 years.
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Celebrities Who Were College Athletes:
- Stacker's exploration of 30 celebrities who were previously college athletes.
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Images of Winning Moments in Sports History:
- Stacker's collection of 50 images showcasing iconic winning moments in sports history.
The article weaves a narrative connecting the personal experiences of a collector, the challenges of overproduction, the allure of rare and valuable cards, and the occasional real-life discovery of hidden treasures in attics, all within the broader context of baseball's rich history.
