Sports collectors show opens in Anaheim: $1.3 million Honus Wagner baseball card displayed

ANAHEIM, CA - The National Sports Collectors Convention, the key event for exhibitors and collectors of sports and entertainment items, opens a four-day run today at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave.

The T206 Honus Wagner baseball card will be displayed. The card, said to be worth $1.3 milllion, was at one time owned by hockey great Wayne Gretzy, and was purchased six years ago by Newport Beach businessman Brian Seigel for $1.265 million.

The card is rare today because it was packaged with tobacco, and Wagner stopped its distribution not wanting to promote tobacco use to children.

Baseball Hall of Fame members scheduled to sign memorabilia at the show are Sparky Anderson, Steve Carlton, Rod Carew, Willie McCovey, Eddie Murray, Gaylord Perry, Frank Robinson, Duke Snider and Dave Winfield, along with baseball's career-hit record holder Pete Rose, who is barred from consideration for the Hall of Fame because of his lifetime ban from baseball for betting on the sport while managing the Cincinnati Reds in the late 1980s.

Super Bowl winning quarterbacks Troy Aikman, Joe Montana, Bart Starr and Steve Young are among the Pro Football Hall of Fame members scheduled to sign memorabilia, along with fellow Hall of Fame members Marcus Allen, Jim Brown, Dick Butkus, Eric Dickerson, Tony Dorsett, Dan Fouts, Jim Kelly, Warren Moon, Barry Sanders, Gale Sayers and Lawrence Taylor and record-setting receiver Jerry Rice, an almost-certain first ballot Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible in 2010.

The Basketball Hall of Fame will be represented by legendary Los Angeles Laker guard Magic Johnson and former UCLA coach John Wooden.

Tickets for the show are $17.50 at the door. Information: www.nsccshow.com.