1909-11 T206 Admiral Schlei (Catching)
1909–11 T206 Admiral Schlei
New York Giants · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Admiral Schlei (“Catching” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Admiral Schlei, a member of the historic New York Giants (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 951 examples have been graded, with only 35 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Admiral Schlei
Born 1878 in Cincinnati, OH (d. 1958), Admiral Schlei was a right-handed catcher who debuted in 1904 and played 8 major-league seasons. He batted .237 with 455 hits, 6 home runs, and 38 stolen bases in 636 games.
Confirmed backs (6)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 595 | 30 | 23 | 72 | 137 | 130 | 114 | 89 |
| SGC | 356 | 5 | 8 | 43 | 44 | 93 | 65 | 98 |
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 | 129 |
| Piedmont | 97 |
| Sweet Caporal | 87 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 79 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 32 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 21 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 15 |
| Hindu | 10 |
| El Principe de Gales | 10 |
| Old Mill | 9 |
| Unknown back | 106 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 11 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 8 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 3 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 152 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 42 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 12 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 98 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 3 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 27 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Admiral Schlei card?
The Admiral Schlei (Catching) 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 New York Giants player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 951 examples of the Admiral Schlei have been graded, with only 35 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Admiral Schlei come with?
The Admiral Schlei is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Admiral Schlei 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.