Seeking Info. on Very rare Wagner pin

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Posted By: Aaron Seefeldt

This is the only pin that I own. I bought it about 6 months ago and it grows on me more and more every day. I have been told there are just a couple of these known.

The image is an early one of Honus as it is identical to the Pitts. Celluloid from 1904.

Any and all info is highly appreciated.

thanks,
Aaron Seefeldt

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*I do not own the celluloid.*

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Posted By: Todd Schultz

Given the verbiage, it may have been issued by an insurance company. I spent a few minutes on google and see where Pittsburgh suffered a horrible flood in mid-March 1907:

"The greatest flood in the history of Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Eastern Ohio is being experienced to-night. Thirty-one lives have been lost in the various swollen streams and flooded district, and property damage incalculable has been sustained.

A large part of Pittsburg is submerged, and 100,000 persons are thrown out of employment."

http://www.gendisasters.com/data1/pa/floods/pittsburgh-flood-mar1907.htm

Of course I'm just speculating, but it seems that right before the baseball season, the people of Pittsburgh may have looked to Wagner as a rallying cry.

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Posted By: Al Simeone

Aaron,
According to the book Smithsonian Baseball There is a picture of the Pocket schedule put out by the Pittsburg Leader from 1904. The pin as is stated in the book "In 1904 after leading the national league in batting for the third time. Honus Wagner probably could have sold anything including Insurance as he proved by appearing on a pinback for the Commercial Oldest Accident Company. Pin is 1" in diameter. So it probably dates to 1904.

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Posted By: Dan Kravitz

The card must have been printed from late 1903 to early 1904. My understanding is that the card was distributed in the Pitt Leader newspaper before the season started. Here is a scan of the back...

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

That is some road trip the Bucco's took in June!

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Posted By: Dan Koteles

I think that pin is when A.J Heinz was running for MAyor and Wags was his running mate.

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Posted By: Giovanni Azzarelli

You got yourself a great piece of history! How did you come across this beauty?

I don't see how this pin wouldn't bring 7K to 10K if you were to sell it! If you own his T206, then you gotta have this one too

Giovanni