1909–11 T206 Barney Pelty
St Louis Browns · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Barney Pelty (“Horizontal” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Barney Pelty, a member of the historic St Louis Browns (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 790 examples have been graded, with only 16 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Barney Pelty
Barney Pelty was a right-handed pitcher born September 10, 1880, in Farmington, Missouri, one of the earliest Jewish players in the American League. He signed with the Cedar Rapids Rabbits of the Three-I League in 1903; the St. Louis Browns bought his contract that August, and he debuted August 20, 1903. Pelty pitched for the Browns from 1903 to 1912, finishing that final year with the Washington Senators before dropping to the minors. His peak came in 1906, when he went 16-11 with a 1.59 ERA (second in the AL and still a franchise record) and led the league by holding hitters to a .202 average. He also endured a league-leading 21 losses in 1907. Nicknamed "the Yiddish Curver" for his Jewish heritage and his sharp-breaking curveball, Pelty was proud of his identity and never changed his name. He finished 92-117 with a 2.63 ERA and 22 shutouts, the lowest career ERA of any Jewish pitcher. He is not in the Hall of Fame. He died May 24, 1939, in his hometown.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (4)
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 | 460 | 13 | 18 | 40 | 114 | 80 | 103 | 92 |
| SGC | 330 | 3 | 6 | 34 | 40 | 64 | 71 | 112 |
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 | 220 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 76 |
| Sweet Caporal | 51 |
| Hindu | 16 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 14 |
| Unknown back | 83 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 10 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 217 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 94 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Barney Pelty card?
The Barney Pelty (Horizontal) 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 Browns player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 790 examples of the Barney Pelty have been graded, with only 16 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Barney Pelty come with?
The Barney Pelty is confirmed with 4 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Barney Pelty 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.
Other poses of Barney Pelty
More St Louis Browns 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.