First published 2007
A single baseball card transforms from a $25,000 curiosity in a strip mall shop into a $2 million prize that reshapes an entire industry. The T206 Honus Wagner card, one of only dozens known to exist, captivates collectors with its pristine condition while most others show century-old wear. Wayne Gretzky pays $451,000 for it at Sotheby's. Later it sells for $1.27 million on eBay. But questions swirl around its origins and authenticity. Investigative reporters Michael O'Keeffe and Teri Thompson trace the card's journey from a Florida flea market through the hands of prominent collectors. They uncover a world populated by counterfeiters and con artists who exploit what began as a childhood hobby. The reporters examine ongoing investigations into sports collectibles fraud while exploring how this single card poisoned friendships and created fortunes. They also tell the story of Honus Wagner himself, the legendary shortstop whose baseball achievements now live in the shadow of his trading card. The book reveals how the sports memorabilia subculture operates and documents its recent decline.
Genres: 20th-century, business, crime, non-fiction, 21st-century, investigative-journalism
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, true-crime
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
256 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow