Record amount paid for rare baseball card

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The "Mona Lisa" of baseball cards has sold for a record $2.35 million.

The T206 Honus Wagner baseball card is considered the most valuable baseball card in existence, according to SCP Auctions, the new minority owners of the card. SCP said on Tuesday the primary purchaser, a Southern California collector, wished to remain anonymous.

Honus Wagner, a former Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop, was one of the first five players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Originally released in 1909, there are no more than 60 known cards in existence. The card just sold is believed to be in the best condition of all the known Wagner cards.

"I'd consider this card's condition an eight out of 10," said SCP acquisitions director Allen Miller. "The next closest card is maybe a five out of 10."

The card last sold for $1.26 million in 2000, and has nearly doubled in price three of the last four times it has been sold, according to SCP.

Previous owners have included hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and former sports executive Bruce McNall.