1909-11 T206 Bill Bergen (Catching)
1909–11 T206 Bill Bergen
Brooklyn Superbas · National League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Bill Bergen (“Catching” 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 460 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 848 examples have been graded, with only 16 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bill Bergen
Born 1878 in North Brookfield, MA (d. 1943), Bill Bergen was a right-handed catcher who debuted in 1901 and played 11 major-league seasons. He batted .170 with 516 hits, 2 home runs, and 23 stolen bases in 947 games.
Confirmed backs (11)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 518 | 14 | 32 | 71 | 129 | 89 | 104 | 79 |
| SGC | 330 | 2 | 8 | 47 | 65 | 66 | 65 | 77 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 94 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 92 |
| Piedmont | 69 |
| Sweet Caporal | 59 |
| Old Mill | 25 |
| Polar Bear | 23 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 18 |
| Tolstoi | 17 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 7 |
| El Principe de Gales | 7 |
| Lenox | 6 |
| Cycle 1911 | 3 |
| Unknown back | 98 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1911 | 3 |
| Cycle 1911 | 5 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 5 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 2 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 13 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 131 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 18 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 17 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 113 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 23 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bill Bergen card?
The Bill Bergen (Catching) 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 cigarette packs across 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 848 examples of the Bill Bergen 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 Bill Bergen come with?
The Bill Bergen is confirmed with 11 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Uzit. 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.