The Card: Collectors, Con Men, and the True Story of History’s Most Desired Baseball Card

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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.

  • Author: Michael O'Keeffe, Teri Thompson
  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Published: June, 2008
  • Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.6 x 8 inches
Player Biography
One of the Hall of Fame’s first inductees in 1936, Honus Wagner combined offensive and defensive excellence throughout a 21-year career. He hit better than .300 in 17 consecutive seasons, winning eight National League batting titles while hitting .329 lifetime. Wagner also led the league in stolen bases in five seasons. Primarily a shortstop, he excelled everywhere in the infield and outfield despite an awkward appearance – barrel-chested and bowlegged. John McGraw called him “the nearest thing to a perfect player no matter where his manager chose to play him.”

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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.

  • Author: Michael O'Keeffe, Teri Thompson
  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Published: June, 2008
  • Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.6 x 8 inches
Player Biography
One of the Hall of Fame’s first inductees in 1936, Honus Wagner combined offensive and defensive excellence throughout a 21-year career. He hit better than .300 in 17 consecutive seasons, winning eight National League batting titles while hitting .329 lifetime. Wagner also led the league in stolen bases in five seasons. Primarily a shortstop, he excelled everywhere in the infield and outfield despite an awkward appearance – barrel-chested and bowlegged. John McGraw called him “the nearest thing to a perfect player no matter where his manager chose to play him.”

Men's Jerseys

JERSEY SIZE 40 44 48 52 56 60
Size Equivalent S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL
Chest 34 - 36" 38 - 40" 42 - 44" 46 - 48" 50 - 52" 54 - 56" 58 - 60"
Waist 28 - 30" 32 - 34" 36 - 38" 40 - 42" 44 - 46" 48 - 50" 52 - 54"
Hip 34 - 36" 38 - 40" 42 - 44" 46 - 48" 50 - 52" 54 - 56" 58 - 60"