Gum Not Included

PIRATES SHORTSTOP Honus Wagner was just trying to keep kids from smoking in 1909 when he forced the American Tobacco Company to withdraw the baseball card with his likeness that was being packaged with cigarettes. The success of that effort is debatable, but Wagner did create a cottage industry. A handful of '09 Wagner cards made it to market, becoming instant collectibles, and fewer than 100 still exist. In a private sale last week an unidentified California collector bought one, in near-mint condition, from Las Vegas businessman Brian Seigel for a record $2.35 million. Here's how the card's value has climbed through the years.

1971
After a Wall Street Journal story on card collecting, a Wagner sells in a private transaction for a record $1,000

1986
A Long Island memorabilia store owner stumbles on a Wagner in his inventory, then brokers a private sale to collectors Bill Mastro and Rob Lifson for $25,000

1987
Mastro and Lifson put the card up for sale; sporting goods magnate James Copeland submits winning bid of $110,000

1991
Copeland holds an auction; the Honus goes to Wayne Gretzky and L.A. Kings owner Bruce McNall for $451,000

1996
A Florida woman holds an auction after winning a Wagner in a Wal-Mart promotion; it goes to Chicago collector Mike Gidwitz for $640,500

2000
Seigel decides he wants to be the first to shell out $1 million for a card; he succeeds, buying a Wagner for $1.265 million on eBay

2007
$2.35M