CGC Unveils Restored T206 Honus Wagner Ahead of Fanatics Fest Display

CGC has authenticated and encapsulated one of the most unusual examples of the hobby’s most famous baseball card.

The company announced that a restored 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner, long known in the hobby as the “Die-Cut Wagner,” will make its first public appearance in decades at Fanatics Fest NYC. The card will be displayed July 16 through July 19, 2026, at the Javits Center in New York City inside CGC booth #137.

The card is owned by sports commentator and writer Keith Olbermann. According to CGC, it was recently submitted for authentication, certification and encapsulation. CGC’s review confirmed the card’s authenticity and documented its restoration, resulting in a CGC Authentic – Restored designation.

The T206 Honus Wagner has long been one of the defining cards in sports collecting. It was issued between 1909 and 1911 as part of the American Tobacco Company’s T206 set and was pulled from production early. CGC said experts estimate that the number distributed to the public was likely in the low hundreds, with perhaps only 200 printed. Today, fewer than 100 are known to exist, and only a little more than 50 examples have been certified across all third-party grading services.

This particular Wagner has a different history than most. At some point, Wagner’s portrait was cut away from the original card design and backing, leaving only the player’s silhouette. The altered card was brought to a hobby shop in the mid-1970s and later surfaced publicly in that incomplete form, eventually becoming known as the Die-Cut Wagner.

The card was later professionally restored using period-appropriate donor material from the 1909-11 T206 set. CGC said the restoration reunited the Wagner silhouette with a matching front design and period-correct back, while preserving a transparent record of the work. The company’s Authentic – Restored designation identifies that history for collectors.

Andy Broome, CGC’s Vice President of sports card grading, said few cards carry the cultural weight of the T206 Honus Wagner. He said this example is especially compelling because its long and unusual history can now be understood with clarity, from its die-cut past to the disclosed restoration and CGC’s forensic authentication.

Olbermann said the card had been in his office and collection for years before CGC resolved questions about what it was. He said, “Honus is Honus – with a great makeover!”

During the authentication process, CGC experts examined the restoration using a Video Spectral Comparator and other forensic tools. Their analysis determined that the card contains an authentic 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner.

After Fanatics Fest, the card will be offered by Love of the Game Auctions in its Summer Premier Auction, running July 20 through August 8.

At Fanatics Fest, the Wagner will be displayed alongside two other major sports cards: a signed 1979-80 Topps #18 Wayne Gretzky rookie card graded CGC Gem Mint 10 with an Auto 10 grade, and a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Type 1 graded CGC 8. The three cards will be part of the CGC Graded Grail Showcase.

CGC said each card will be presented on its own illuminated pedestal. Attendees will also be able to take photos inside a larger-than-life CGC holder installation inspired by the company’s clear holder design. CGC will also accept submissions for card grading and authentication at booth #137 during the event.