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The Card: Collectors, Con Men, and the True Story of History’s Most Desired Baseball Card – A Gripping Investigation into the T206 Wagner Forgery and Sports Memorabilia Fraud

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Description

Only a few dozen T206 Wagners are known to still exist, having been released in limited numbers just after the turn of the twentieth century. Most, with their creases and stains, look like they've been around for nearly one hundred years. But one—The Card—appears to have defied the travails of time. Its sharp corners and still-crisp portrait make it the single-most famous—and most desired—baseball card on the planet, valued today at more than two million dollars. It has transformed a simple hobby into a billion-dollar industry that is at times as lawless as the Wild West. Everything about The Card, which has made men wealthy as well as poisoned lifelong relationships, is fraught with controversy—from its uncertain origins to the nagging possibility that it might not be exactly as it seems.In this intriguing, eye-opening, and groundbreaking look at a uniquely American obsession, award-winning investigative reporters Michael O'Keeffe and Teri Thompson follow The Card's trail from a Florida flea market to the hands of the world's most prominent collectors. The Card sheds a fascinating new light on a world of counterfeiters, con men, and the people who profit from what used to be a pastime for kids. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dey Street Books


Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 17, 2008


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0061123935


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 31


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.6 ounces


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.61 x 8 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #121,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #11 in Antique & Collectible Sports Cards (Books) #36 in Baseball Coaching (Books) #263 in Baseball (Books)


#11 in Antique & Collectible Sports Cards (Books):


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • An intriguing story well told
Format: Hardcover
Authors Michael O'Keefe and Teri Thompson tell an interesting and entertaining story about "The Card"--the most valuable Honus Wagner T206 card as well as the card collecting and sports memorabilia "hobby." The Wagner card sold for $2.35 million in February 2007. It is, as the authors write, "the symbol of a hobby out of control." As one prominent collector said, "Too much of this hobby's driven by greed." The authors chronicle the transformation of the hobby into a $2 billion a year, Internet-driven business, which attracts more than its share of unsavory characters. While slightly familiar with the Gretzky Wagner T206 card (so named because hockey great Wayne Gretzky and a partner once purchased it), I had no idea about its history and the controversy that surrounds it. The authors present a strong case that the card was actually cut from a sheet of cards, trimmed and altered. If this is the case, the value of the card should have been drastically reduced. It seems, however, that too many people have too much to lose, if it was actually proven. "The Card" is an intriguing story that will keep you turning the pages. Kudos to the authors for also providing a couple chapters on the career and post-career of Pittsburgh Pirates great Honus Wagner, one of the five original inductees in the Hall of Fame. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2007 by Barry Sparks
    • The Holy grail of baseball cards, the T206 Honus Wagner
The Card to have is the T209 1909 Honus Wagner. Authors Michael O' Keeffe and Teri Thompson follow the travels of a specific Wagner t206 card issued in 1909 from the early 80's until 2007 (the books publishing date). As interesting as the history of the card are the people involved with the card, how the largest card auction houses were built and how cards are sold today at auction. The Wagner card has turned friends into enemy's and foes in the card trading business. The authors talk about Wagner's career, what he did after his career was over and his resistance to even being on a card that promoted smoking. This book is so much more then that. The authors talk about card doctoring and the process involved in that, card cutting, how that cards are graded. Who the major players are in the after market card buying/selling business. O'Keeffe and Thompson give you a history of baseball cards the company's that produced them and the manufacturing changes along the way. In the case of the specific Wagner card that talk not only about how the card sold for for 25,000 dollars in the 80's and most recently sold for over 2,000,000 dollars. O'Keeffe talk about the speculation that the card had been doctored sometime between the 25,000 dollar sale and the 2,000,000 dollar sale. The authors also talk about the T206 set in general and their collectibility. O'Keeffe and Thompson talk about the trends in card buying. The 1952 mickey Mantle, Cigarette company's getting out of the business of putting cards in with their cigarettes and the birth of the Topps chewing gum company. At some point in the early 80's when Topps had to give up their exclusive rights to baseball players for card production the market was then flooded with new manufactures each producing multiple sets. The market and interest baseball for cards took off. By the late 80's the card market was in decline. All in all an interesting read, I wish the authors could have gone farther back in the card's ownership history. The editing was good and I enjoyed the book. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2012 by M. A. Filippelli
    • The Card doesn't make you want to smoke tobacco, but it definitely make you crave the T206!
Format: Paperback
"The Card" is a fantastically written story about thy card ... a PSA 8 NM-MT T206 Honus Wagner ... and the unusual history & conflicting stories surrounding the mystery of what is now know as "The Gretzky Card"! The path this specific card has taken from its discovery & introduction to the public back in '85 by Bill Mastro (now a convicted felon), after purchasing from a small time card dealer, is simply amazing! This book takes you on a compelling journey on how this card was originally purchased for $25,000 by Mastro, with the financial assistance of Robert Lifson (President of Robert Edward Auctions, LLC), to eventually being sold/auctioned off another 6 times culminating in a $2.8 million purchase (presently owned by Ken Kendrick/owner of Arizona Diamondbacks). "The Card" keeps you captivated and does a nice job filling in the back stories and developing the characters who have been influential in either purchasing and/or buying The Card! Its a fun read and highly recommended! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2016 by Marlin T. Carlson
    • Fascinating story and a great read
Format: Kindle
Remember the cafe scene in Indiana Jones, where Belloq holds up a cheap pocket watch and explains what will happen if you bury it in the sand for 10,000 years? Turns out, he should have just saved the cardboard advertisement that came with a pack of American cigarettes for 90 years... In any case, reading the story of how one of those cardboard advertisements became a priceless treasure, and, along the way, reading about both the Indiana Joneses and Renee Belloqs seeking that treasure, is an absolute delight. Great coverage of the subject of that treasure, as well: Honus Wagner. Great book to get excited for a trip to a baseball game (or to remind you to be cautious on your next trip to eBay for baseball cards.) Kindle formatting was excellent. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2013 by Paul Bolstad

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