1909-11 T206 Ambrose Puttman
1909–11 T206 Ambrose Puttman
Louisville Colonels · American Association · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Ambrose Puttman is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Ambrose Puttman, a member of the historic Louisville Colonels (American Association), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 734 examples have been graded, with only 14 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Ambrose Puttman
Ambrose Nicholas "'Brose" Puttmann was a 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher born in Cincinnati in 1880 who reached the majors after starring for local Ohio and Western clubs. Signed to the Helena Senators of the Pacific National League in 1903, he was quickly discovered and brought up by the New York Highlanders, for whom he pitched in parts of three seasons (1903-1905) before a 1906 stint with the St. Louis Cardinals. Across four big-league seasons he compiled an 8-9 record with a sturdy 3.58 ERA over 33 games, striking out 85 and tossing two shutouts, and he swung a lively bat for a pitcher, hitting .286. By the time this T206 card was issued, Puttmann was a mainstay of the Louisville Colonels in the American Association, where he enjoyed a huge 1907 season and remained through 1909 before an arm injury pushed him toward first base. He left the pro game after 1911. His card is one of the T206 set's common minor-league subjects rather than a scarce star.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Confirmed backs (6)
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 | 445 | 11 | 28 | 60 | 116 | 73 | 97 | 60 |
| SGC | 289 | 3 | 7 | 35 | 45 | 79 | 53 | 67 |
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 | 227 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 51 |
| Sweet Caporal | 31 |
| Polar Bear | 27 |
| El Principe de Gales | 19 |
| Tolstoi | 9 |
| Carolina Brights | 6 |
| Unknown back | 75 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 5 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 15 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 172 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 30 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 60 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 7 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Ambrose Puttman card?
The Ambrose Puttman 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 Louisville Colonels player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 734 examples of the Ambrose Puttman have been graded, with only 14 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Ambrose Puttman come with?
The Ambrose Puttman 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 Ambrose Puttman 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 Louisville Colonels 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.