Keith Olbermann to Auction T206 Honus Wagner Baseball Card Used as Paperweight

Keith Olbermann, the former ESPN SportsCenter anchor, is set to auction a T206 Honus Wagner baseball card that he had been using as a paperweight. The card, authenticated by CGC, will be available at Love of the Game Auctions later this summer, following its debut at Fanatics Fest in New York next week.

Details of the Auction and Card Restoration

The T206 Honus Wagner card, known as the die-cut Wagner, is one of the most sought-after baseball cards. Olbermann revealed that he had unknowingly kept this valuable card as a paperweight for years, holding down stacks of baseball spring training programs.

Olbermann shared his experience with the card, stating, "I’m the guy who had a Mona Lisa sitting in the closet, or in this case in the office, literally was in the lucite holder as a paperweight." The card was restored after he had it authenticated, and he learned of its significance through a story that unfolded over many years.

The Journey of the Honus Wagner Card

In the late 1990s, Olbermann sent a card to a restorer, who later offered to buy a damaged Wagner card for restoration. Olbermann recounted, "He quoted me a price, and by the time I got it, it was early 1999." After receiving the card, he attempted to reconnect with the restorer, but found that the contact details were no longer valid.

After years of uncertainty about the card's status, Olbermann's curiosity was piqued when he purchased another Wagner card on eBay. The seller claimed that Olbermann had bought his old card, leading him to seek authentication from CGC.

Authenticating the Die-Cut Wagner

CGC utilized advanced technology to authenticate the card, including a video spectral comparator that analyzes different wavelengths of light. Andy Broome from CGC stated, "We confirmed that the parts of the card were from a donor T206 card and matched up beautifully." This confirmation solidified the card's status as a restored die-cut Wagner.

While restoration is common in various collectible fields, it remains controversial in the baseball card community. Olbermann emphasized the importance of transparency regarding the restoration process, likening it to preserving famous artworks. He remarked, "If you had a Mona Lisa... you would try to fix it." This perspective aims to ease concerns among collectors about the integrity of restored cards.