Honus Wagner, besides adorning the most valuable baseball card in history, was an eight-time National League batting champ and a member of baseball’s first induction class into Cooperstown. “The Flying Dutchman,” as he was called, won one World Series title in 1909 during his illustrious career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
This lot holds an unusual, non-baseball-related item connected to Wagner, direct from his estate: his official Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate to the State Fisheries Commission as an appointed member. Dated April 23, 1914, and signed by the John K. Tener, then Governor of Pennsylvania, the framed certificate measures 15.5” wide by 22” high and includes the state seal. The certificate reads, in part: “Know Ye, in reposing especial trust and confidence in the prudence, integrity and the ability of JOHN J. WAGNER of the County of Allegheny and
under authority of the Constitution and Laws of the said Commonwealth, in such case made and provided, I have appointed and do by there Commission him to be a Member of the State Fisheries Commission.”
Includes letter of provenance from SCP Auctions confirming that this piece was acquired directly from the Wagner Estate.