1909-11 T206 Bill Bradley (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Bill Bradley
Cleveland Naps · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Bill Bradley (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bill Bradley, a member of the historic Cleveland Naps (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 819 examples have been graded, with only 30 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bill Bradley
A Cleveland native who grew up on the Payne Avenue sandlots alongside the Delahanty brothers, William Joseph Bradley (born 1878) broke into pro ball with Burlington in 1897 and reached the majors with the Chicago Orphans (Cubs) in August 1899, debuting as a shortstop before settling in at third base. In 1901 he jumped to the new American League's Cleveland franchise, where he starred for a decade (1901-1910) as one of the era's premier third basemen. His peak came in 1902, when he batted a career-high .340 with a .515 slugging mark, and he was the first player to homer in four consecutive games. He hit for the cycle in 1903 and topped .300 again in 1904 before injuries sapped his power. Bradley adapted into a defensive and small-ball specialist, leading the league in fielding four times and laying down 60 sacrifice hits in 1908, still among the highest single-season totals ever. A .271 career hitter, he later managed Toronto to the 1911 International League pennant, and after playing in the Federal League he returned as a longtime Cleveland scout, signing future stars like Tommy Henrich and Ken Keltner. Bradley is a common but well-liked subject in the T206 set, appearing in both Portrait and fielding 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 | 489 | 28 | 25 | 72 | 103 | 85 | 105 | 71 |
| SGC | 330 | 2 | 8 | 45 | 47 | 84 | 49 | 95 |
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 | 105 |
| Piedmont | 99 |
| Sweet Caporal | 54 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 49 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 25 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 21 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 21 |
| Hindu | 10 |
| El Principe de Gales | 9 |
| Old Mill | 7 |
| Unknown back | 89 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 16 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 7 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 2 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 150 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 30 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 15 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 82 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 27 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bill Bradley card?
The Bill Bradley (Portrait) 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 Cleveland Naps player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 819 examples of the Bill Bradley have been graded, with only 30 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Bill Bradley come with?
The Bill Bradley 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 Bradley 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 Bradley
More Cleveland Naps 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.