Who would have thought that a childhood hobby would become lucrative or even a business? Many of us, guys and gals, have hobbies and collect things when we were younger. Most of us (guys) never would have thought that our favorite baseball card would be worth millions. That seems to be the case for many older men now, recalling the “good” baseball cards we owned that are now worth hundreds, thousands, and even millions.

Any avid card collector knows about the holy grail of the baseball cards. Honus Wagner. Now, for those of you who don’t know who or what Honus Wagner is and was he was a baseball player who’s card was sold in 1909 by the American Tobacco Company.

The Honus Wagner baseball card sold for $2.8 million to a private collector who may reveal himself at a later date. The card was previously owned and bought by an unidentified collector in February of 2007 for $2.35 million. “Adding to its value is that only 50 to 60 Wagner cards are believed to exist, and none of the others in circulation are close to the quality of this one, which has been encased in protective sheeting for decades.”

“Wagner’s card was among the first of hundreds of cards of major league players produced by the American Tobacco Co. and included in packages of cigarettes.” However, other than the fact there are only a handful of Honus Wagner cards left is the fact that he demanded his card to be pulled and not included in packages of cigarettes. “One of the first five players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Wagner retired in 1917 with more hits, runs, RBIs, doubles, triples and steals than any NL player.”

[via BusinessWeek]

Tags: Business, Baseball, Collectors, Baseball Cards, Honus Wagner, Mona Lisa

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