T206 Wagner on ESPN this morning ...

TheHun · September 14, 2008 2:39AM

Anyone else see the piece on the guys who have had a T206 Wagner that they cannot sell ? (PSA claims it is fake)

This was discussed in detail in the book "The Card".

The TV part featured Joe Orlando among other that were interviewed.

A very interesting expose.

jrinck · September 14, 2008 2:52AM

HBO's RealSports did a story on this.

Anybody who buys this card for more than three dollars is seriously mentally ill.

TheHun · September 14, 2008 2:57AM

What I found interesting was compelling evidence on BOTH sides as the story was told.

I think in the end, the card will have as many stories to tell and will eventually sell based on its story. (not saying how much it will sell for, though)

I need not worry, because I'll never be able to afford it.

Still a great baseball card story making it to TV.

cheers

swartz1 · September 14, 2008 3:02AM

garbage collector - paid $1800.00 and had a chance to sell it for $10,000 and balked? c'mon...and this was his paper examiner ...there are more holes in this story than the last pound of swiss cheese I bought...

WinPitcher · September 14, 2008 3:55AM

Back in 84 he claims he had no idea who Wagner was yet he paid 1800.00 for his card.

I bet the person selling the fake knew. Thus the 1800.00 price

Most T206 's back then could be had for between 10.00 and 50.00

I remember selling an ex Chesbro for 15.00 back in 85-6

damn i wish I had that card back.

Steve

RedHeart54 · September 14, 2008 4:27AM

Actually, look at this clip. Skip ahead to about 1:20.

Wheel of Fortune 1985

JackWESQ · September 14, 2008 4:37AM

I read the article about the Wagner in this weeks issue of ESPN The Magazine. The seller refuses to mail/send the card to PSA for fear of what they might do to it while it is in their possession. I kept on thinking one thing. On site grading.

/s/ JackWESQ

Allen · September 14, 2008 4:41AM

It's because there black.

Allen · September 14, 2008 4:42AM

to clarify, I mean their race is why the whole hobby is against them and their "card". All the white collectors are hatting on some young brothers tryin to come up in tha game.

ymarea · September 14, 2008 4:54AM

<< Back in 84 he claims he had no idea who Wagner was yet he paid 1800.00 for his card.

I bet the person selling the fake knew. Thus the 1800.00 price

Most T206 's back then could be had for between 10.00 and 50.00

I remember selling an ex Chesbro for 15.00 back in 85-6

damn i wish I had that card back.

Steve >>

Steve's first sentence says it all. Who in his right mind would pay $1800 for a card of a player of whom he has never heard? Nobody. The story is bogus, which should lead any clear-thinking person to assume that the card is bogus, too. I'll bet the "buyer" has never heard of Ron Theobald, either. Perhaps I can sell him one of mine for $1750.

ArchStanton · September 14, 2008 4:54AM

I read a theory that it is a fake on a real T206 back.

lsutigers1973 · September 14, 2008 5:43AM

<< The story is bogus, which should lead any clear-thinking person to assume that the card is bogus, too. >>

I guess that eliminates a few posters on here.

Trashman goes to an estate sale in '84. Minimum wage was $3.35/hr in 1984. Let's assume he made 3x's minimum wage (although not very likely). So once again, a trashman goes to an estate sale with approximately 2 months salary in his pocket. Spends 1/6th of his annual income on a baseball card of a player he had never heard of. Then, a trashman is offered $10k for the same card, over 5.5 x's what he paid for it. Yet, he refuses.

If you are dumb enough just to believe that part, please do not read any more. Then, he is told by numerous experts that the card is a reprint. Joe Orlando says he immediately recognized it as a reprint due to the font size on the "P" in Pittsburgh. Not to mention the background color difference, the artificially aged borders on the bottom and left side or the bright white borders on the top and right side. Yes, there are variations of font size and color on almost all of the t206's. But, none of the variations are anywhere close to the ones on this card.

Every collector or vintage card expert that has seen this card has stated that it was without a doubt a reprint. The only people that state it is legit are the owners, a fiber expert that was paid by the owners, a photo expert also paid by the owners and an old antiques guy (not a card collector or seller) that keeps it in his safe and just wants to collect a commission.

swartz1 · September 14, 2008 6:18AM

<< It's because there black. >>

you dont honestly believe that...

anyway - they got to have white friends ...give it one of them to find out if it is legit... they know it is not... so the pain goes on...

fur72 · September 14, 2008 7:18AM

<< Actually, look at this clip. Skip ahead to about 1:20.

Wheel of Fortune 1985 >>

That guys looks like some of the present day dealers I see at card shows. Has more chains than Mr. T. Looks like Mr. Mint before the shaved head.

If anyone has not seen the outside the lines story you can still see it on espn.com

I find the strory strange myself. Shelling out $1800 for a card of a person you never heard of. Not that the story is not legit but the dude may have been taken from the begining.

Edit for link to story Link to video on ESPN

SoFLPhillyFan · September 14, 2008 7:24AM

<< to clarify, I mean their race is why the whole hobby is against them and their "card". All the white collectors are hatting on some young brothers tryin to come up in tha game. >>

Word.

And whitey's on the moon.

Fight the man Gil Scott.

Allen · September 14, 2008 7:41AM

I think I could gather almost everything written or currently known about the Wagner card in maybe a week. What the heck could you do that takes six years and 2 A.M. phone calls on a nightly basis?

mudflap02 · September 14, 2008 10:31PM

These guys are such a joke. It looks like it was the net54 boards that got called out in the ESPN piece. While I don't necessarily agree with the way some of the posters on Net54 got their points across, keep in mind that those boards are the #1 source of information on vintage, and especially pre-war cards. Being told that the card is a fake is simply not an answer these guys will take. I respect their right to disagree with anyone who knows anything about the hobby. However, those are the only potential buyers for this card. Ma and Pa Kettle will not buy a Wagner at auction, as shown in the video.

To me, it seems like the biggest nail in the coffin is that they won't let the card out of their sight for grading, but they have no problem leaving it in some old guy's store 6 states away. Pick one reason to not get the card graded, and stick with it.

nightcrawler · September 15, 2008 12:10AM

Scammers aren't very good at coming up with excusses for why they won't have something graded.

The seller of this Bobby Orr knows full well, that this card is a reprint.

EDITED: Listing was removed.
SOUNDS SILLY BUT I AM SCARED TO SEND IT AWAY FOR GRADING AS HOW DO I KNOW ILL GET MY CARD BACK NOT ANOTHER.

stevek · September 15, 2008 12:40AM

I saw the HBO special I guess it was a few years ago - No question, no doubt about it. this card is a fake. This really should be a non-story.

T206 Wagner on ESPN this morning ...

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