1909-11 T206 Al Mattern
1909–11 T206 Al Mattern
Boston Doves · National League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Al Mattern is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Al Mattern, a member of the historic Boston Doves (National League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 877 examples have been graded, with only 27 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Al Mattern
Born 1883 in West Rush, NY (d. 1958), Al Mattern was a left-handed pitcher who debuted in 1908 and played 5 major-league seasons. He went 36-58 with a 3.37 ERA and 254 strikeouts across 138 appearances.
Confirmed backs (6)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 532 | 25 | 41 | 84 | 123 | 86 | 101 | 72 |
| SGC | 345 | 2 | 8 | 43 | 69 | 81 | 51 | 91 |
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 1910 | 259 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 54 |
| Sweet Caporal | 44 |
| Polar Bear | 38 |
| El Principe de Gales | 19 |
| Tolstoi | 10 |
| Carolina Brights | 5 |
| Unknown back | 103 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 1 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 15 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 230 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 31 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 57 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 11 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Al Mattern card?
The Al Mattern 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 Boston Doves player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 877 examples of the Al Mattern have been graded, with only 27 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Al Mattern come with?
The Al Mattern is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: Carolina Brights, El Principe de Gales, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Al Mattern 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.