Tuesday, August 19, 2003

By Shelly Anderson, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Being what he calls "an extraordinarily advanced collector," Michael Shwartz knew in advance that the summer Internet auction conducted by California company Sports Cards Plus would be good.

He was still taken aback by what was available, particularly the dozens of items from the estate of Pirates Hall of Fame shortstop Honus Wagner.

"The array of items was unsurpassed," said Shwartz, who runs a family restaurant in New Orleans and who bought 20 items, including six that were being sold by Wagner's granddaughter, Leslie Wagner Blair.

"He was one of the greatest players ever. I am honored to own the pieces I do."

Buyers' names were not made public, but Shwartz was happy to talk about his purchases last night. He collects paper items such as comic books and various sports memorabilia.

He successfully bid on a 1908 contract for $4,025 that was signed by Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss but not Wagner, who was negotiating for more money. He also got a 1914 hunting photo of Wagner with his handwriting on the back for $695, a 1914 proclamation naming Wagner as a member of the State Fisheries Commission for $458, a 1915-16 Pittsburgh Stove League program for $345, a pair of 1917 Honus Wagner Day pinbacks for $4,688, and a 1917 Stove League banquet program for $2,296.

"I look for importance over glamour," Shwartz said, adding that he didn't care that one of the stove league programs had a few roach bites or that the frame on the proclamation had some termite damage.

"This, to a person like me, is a once-in-a-lifetime foray," he said. "I never sell. I just collect. Anybody who's a real collector loves these things."

That's exactly what Wagner Blair, of Carnegie, wanted to hear about her grandfather's things. She has no heirs, is moving and no longer wanted to store a lot of the memorabilia. The items she sold brought more than $180,000, plus a 15 percent buyers' fee. The auction closed Friday, and Sports Cards Plus was completing invoicing yesterday.

E-mail this story   Print this story