t206 Nap Lajoie with Bat

The 1909 to 1911 T206 baseball card set has long been considered one of the most, if not the most, important issues in the entire hobby. The visual appeal of the cards, the immense size of the set, and the incredible player selection make this treasure a collector favorite. Along with the 1933 Goudey and 1952 Topps sets, the classic T206 set is one of “The Big Three” in the world of baseball cards.

You can easily make the argument that “The Monster,” as it is commonly referred to, is truly the pinnacle of all trading cards sets. It is much larger than the 1933 Goudey set, requiring more than twice the amount of cards to complete. It is also arguably more visually appealing than the 1952 Topps set due to the superb artwork used in the design.

Furthermore, the 524-card T206 set is home to the most valuable trading card in the world, the card that has become the symbol of the hobby itself. Of course, I am referring to the Mona Lisa of trading cards . . . the T206 Honus Wagner. The Wagner card shares the limelight with 75 other cards featuring members of baseball’s Hall of Fame, but it is worth more than the other 523 cards combined, assuming they are in the same condition. At the time of this writing (2009), the highest price ever paid for any trading card was $2.8 million, a Wagner example that was graded NM-MT 8 by Professional Sports Authenticator, the leading third-party authentication and grading service.

One of baseball’s most beloved players of the era, Nap Lajoie was so beloved by his fans that the Cleveland franchise was actually named the “Naps” before they changed their name to the Indians.  One of the most beautiful cards of the set, this particular example has rich colors which show off that beautiful sunset over the picket fence.  Graded at a 2.5, this card has a decent grade for being a Polar Bear back which was typically distributed as a loose insert in tobacco pouches. This often led to staining and creasing of these cards before they were even opened.

Not for sale, but you may contact me with an offer.