1909-11 T206 Addie Joss (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Addie Joss
Cleveland Naps · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Addie Joss (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Addie Joss, a member of the historic Cleveland Naps (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1677 examples have been graded, with only 58 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Addie Joss
Adrian "Addie" Joss broke into pro ball with the Toledo Mud Hens in 1900 and reached the majors in 1902, spending his entire nine-year career (1902-1910) as a right-handed pitcher for Cleveland, the Bronchos and later the Naps. Famous for a deceptive corkscrew delivery that turned his back to the hitter, he compiled a 160-97 record with a 1.89 ERA, second-lowest in major-league history behind only rival Ed Walsh, and his career WHIP of 0.968 remains the lowest of all time. Joss threw 45 shutouts and won two ERA titles, going 24-11 with a 1.16 ERA in 1908. That October 2, he pitched the fourth perfect game in baseball history, a 1-0 gem over Walsh and the White Sox, then no-hit the same club again in 1910. Nicknamed "The Human Hairpin" for his tall, spindly frame and long arms, Joss died suddenly of tubercular meningitis in April 1911 at age 31. The Hall of Fame waived its ten-year rule to elect him in 1978. A Hall of Famer, he is among the T206 set's more sought-after subjects.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (5)
Chip colour marks each back's rarity tier. See the full T206 back rarity ranking →
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 986 | 50 | 35 | 82 | 179 | 195 | 220 | 225 |
| SGC | 691 | 8 | 4 | 50 | 88 | 131 | 133 | 277 |
NM 7+ bundles grades 7–10; 1 & Auth bundles grade 1, 1.5 & Authentic. Totals are subject-level (summed across all backs). Population as of 2026-06.
PSA by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1909 | 206 |
| Piedmont | 175 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 103 |
| Sweet Caporal | 97 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 74 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 40 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 20 |
| Sovereign | 16 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 14 |
| Old Mill | 11 |
| Hindu | 9 |
| Unknown back | 221 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 9 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 6 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 304 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 101 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 27 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 27 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 165 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 51 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Addie Joss card?
The Addie Joss (Portrait) is one of 524 subjects in the T206 "White Border" tobacco set issued 1909-1911, the hobby's most iconic vintage set (nicknamed "The Monster"). It pictures the Cleveland Naps player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1677 examples of the Addie Joss have been graded, with only 58 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Addie Joss come with?
The Addie Joss is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Addie Joss valuable?
Value depends heavily on the back brand and the card's grade: common backs in low grade trade modestly, while scarce backs and high grades command strong premiums. Check the current T206 Cards listings and eBay options above for live pricing.
Other poses of Addie Joss
More Cleveland Naps cards
Sources: t206resource.com, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and Inside T206 by Scot Reader. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.