So Who Bought the Holy Grail?

Mystery surrounds purchase of Honus Wagner card

Who bought the Holy Grail of baseball cards? And why is he (or she) hiding in the shadows?

The most coveted baseball card in the world, the 1909 Honus Wagner T206 once owned by Wayne Gretzky, was purchased last week by an unidentified California collector for a record $2.35 million. Brian Seigel, the Las Vegas businessman who sold the card, won't say who the buyer is. Neither will SCP Auctions, the California company that is the mystery collector's minority partner.

Most of the card's previous owners have reveled in publicity, but this collector, says SCP Auctions spokesman Toby Zwickel, prefers to stay in the background.

So without any concrete facts, the hobby's gossip mill has been forced into overdrive. One very knowledgeable source says he's heard the card will be sold soon to a Las Vegas businessman who plans to display the card at his casino. But we were not able to confirm that -- the businessman declined an iTeam request for an interview.

This card is so valuable because it is in superior condition -- it looks far better than the 50 or 60 other Wagner T206 cards still in circulation -- but it has been dogged for years by rumors about its origins.

Industry executives say Seigel was eager to sell the Wagner card because of persistent reports that it was trimmed from a sheet decades after it left the factory, which may significantly alter its status and value.

"The Card", a book by two members of the iTeam, is scheduled to be released by William Morrow in May, examines the rumors surrounding the card.

Here's a link to an NBC Sports interview with O'Keeffe about the stories that have been swarming around this card for years.

Posted at: 01.10.2007
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