Why is the 'Honus Wagner' Rookie card considered to be the most valuable baseball card ever?

bmrsnr

I couldn't find a singular reason but it is likely to be due to several reasons. 1. Though it is not the most rare baseball card, the T206 Honus Wagner rookie has only 57 known copies in existence today. 2. This particular card was distributed through the American Tobacco Company and shortly after distribution began, Wagner refused to allow production to continue, the real reason for which is unknown but speculations have focused around either because he didn't want children to buy cigarettes to get the card or because he wanted more compensation. Thus, less than 200 of these cards were ever distributed, making their value immediately skyrocket shortly after distribution. 3. Wagner is considered by many to be one of the best if not the best players of his era. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T206_Honus_Wagner Jun 16 09, 4:29 PM

zbeckabee

It's rare, it's in mint condition and it's old. MISSION VIEJO, Calif. -- A rare Honus Wagner baseball card has been sold for a record $2.8 million, just over six months after it was bought for a then-record $2.35 million. Referred to as the "Mona Lisa" of baseball cards, the almost mint-condition collectible -- released in 1909 by the American Tobacco Company -- was sold by Brian Seigel of Las Vegas to an unidentified Southern California collector in February. SCP Auctions was a minority owner, but David Kohler, the company's president and CEO, said that's no longer the case. "This has always been the holy grail, the Mona Lisa of baseball cards," Kohler said. 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. "This is the finest by far per condition," Kohler said. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3007893 Jun 16 09, 8:35 PM