1909–11 T206 Al Orth
Lynchburg Shoemakers · Virginia State League · Southern Leaguer print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Al Orth is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Al Orth, a member of the historic Lynchburg Shoemakers (Virginia State League), and was printed in the Southern Leaguer series, known with 2 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 665 examples have been graded, with only 10 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Al Orth
Al Orth was a right-handed pitcher who reached the majors after starring for the Lynchburg club of the Virginia League, where his 24-7 record in 1895 prompted the Philadelphia Phillies to buy his contract for $1,000. He pitched fifteen big-league seasons for the Phillies (1895-1901), Washington Senators (1902-1903), and New York Highlanders (1904-1909), finishing 204-189 with 324 complete games, 31 shutouts, and just 948 strikeouts in more than 3,300 innings. His finest year was 1906, when he went 27-17 and led the American League in wins and complete games (36); he was also among the few pitchers to win 100 games in both the National and American Leagues. Nicknamed "The Curveless Wonder" because he relied on a slow ball and pinpoint control rather than a breaking pitch (he later borrowed the spitball from Jack Chesbro), Orth was also a superb hitting pitcher, batting .273 with 12 home runs. He closed his career as player-manager at Lynchburg, then umpired in the National League from 1912 to 1917. His T206 card belongs to the scarce "Southern Leaguer" series depicting his Lynchburg days.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (2)
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 | 389 | 9 | 16 | 46 | 105 | 68 | 70 | 75 |
| SGC | 276 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 43 | 67 | 52 | 90 |
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 | 185 |
| Old Mill | 131 |
| Unknown back | 73 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 110 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 166 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Al Orth card?
The Al Orth 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 Lynchburg Shoemakers player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 2 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 665 examples of the Al Orth have been graded, with only 10 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Al Orth come with?
The Al Orth is confirmed with 2 tobacco-brand backs: Old Mill, Piedmont. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Al Orth 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.
More Lynchburg Shoemakers 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 2026-08-28.