1909-11 T206 Al Shaw
1909–11 T206 Al Shaw
St Louis Cardinals · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Al Shaw is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Al Shaw, a member of the historic St Louis Cardinals (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 731 examples have been graded, with only 19 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Al Shaw
Born 1881 in Toledo, IL (d. 1974), Al Shaw was a left-handed outfielder who debuted in 1907 and played 5 major-league seasons. He batted .281 with 434 hits, 14 home runs, and 64 stolen bases in 474 games.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 442 | 15 | 24 | 42 | 106 | 88 | 95 | 72 |
| SGC | 289 | 4 | 7 | 29 | 35 | 60 | 64 | 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 1909 | 116 |
| Piedmont | 87 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 64 |
| Sweet Caporal | 47 |
| El Principe de Gales | 21 |
| Hindu | 16 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 13 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 10 |
| Unknown back | 68 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 11 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 12 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 161 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 16 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 77 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 3 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Al Shaw card?
The Al Shaw 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 St Louis Cardinals player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 731 examples of the Al Shaw have been graded, with only 19 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Al Shaw come with?
The Al Shaw is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Al Shaw 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.