1909–11 T206 Bill Bergen
Brooklyn Superbas · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Bill Bergen (“Batting” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bill Bergen, a member of the historic Brooklyn Superbas (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 814 examples have been graded, with only 19 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bill Bergen
William Aloysius Bergen (1878-1943) was born in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, and broke into pro ball in 1898 with Pawtucket of the New England League before reaching the majors as a catcher with the Cincinnati Reds in 1901. He caught for Cincinnati (1901-1903) and the Brooklyn Superbas (1904-1911), eleven big-league seasons in all. Bergen is famous as one of the most extreme players in baseball history: a brilliant defensive catcher but the worst hitter the game has produced over a substantial career. He batted just .170 lifetime with only two home runs in 3,028 at-bats, the lowest average of any player with 2,500-plus at-bats, and endured a record hitless streak in 1909. Yet he was prized for a cannon arm and pinpoint throwing: on August 23, 1909, he threw out six St. Louis baserunners attempting to steal, a single-game record that still stands, and he ranks among the all-time leaders in catcher assists. His older brother Marty was also a fine NL catcher. Bergen is a common but characterful subject in the T206 set, appearing in Catching and Portrait poses.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
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 | 490 | 18 | 31 | 63 | 129 | 81 | 80 | 88 |
| SGC | 324 | 1 | 10 | 35 | 55 | 71 | 58 | 94 |
NM 7+ bundles grades 7–10; 1 & Auth bundles grade 1, 1.5 & Authentic. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are subject-level (summed across all backs). Population as of 2026-06.
PSA by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1909 | 104 |
| Piedmont | 96 |
| Sweet Caporal | 65 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 48 |
| El Principe de Gales | 22 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 21 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 18 |
| Hindu | 15 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 13 |
| Old Mill | 9 |
| Unknown back | 79 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 15 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 16 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 13 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 129 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 33 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 7 |
| Sovereign 1909-11 | 2 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 81 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 28 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bill Bergen card?
The Bill Bergen (Batting) 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 Brooklyn Superbas player and was inserted in tobacco packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 814 examples of the Bill Bergen 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 Bill Bergen come with?
The Bill Bergen is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Bill Bergen 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 Bill Bergen
More Brooklyn Superbas 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 2026-10-05.