Today in Chicago History: Itasca baseball shop sells a card worth $1,200 to a 12-year-old for $12
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By Kori Rumore
Published on April 20, 2026.
The Chicago Tribune archives reveal that in 1946, the defending National League champion Cubs were supposed to make their TV debut on television due to technical difficulties. The first attempt to televise a baseball game in Chicago was unsuccessful due to electrical interference in the State-Lake building where the transmitter was located, resulting in poor images for the broadcast. In 1986, Michael Jordan set a playoff record with a record-breaking 63 points against the Boston Celtics, surpassing Elgin Baylor's 61 points in the previous game. In 1990, a baseball shop in Itasca mistakenly sold a $1,200 Nolan Ryan rookie card to 12-year-old Brian Wrzesinski for $12, leading to a lengthy legal battle. The card was eventually auctioned at auction for $5,000.
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