1909-11 T206 Bill Chappelle
1909–11 T206 Bill Chappelle
Rochester Bronchos · Eastern League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Bill Chappelle is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bill Chappelle, a member of the historic Rochester Bronchos (Eastern League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 9 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1011 examples have been graded, with only 22 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bill Chappelle
William Hogan "Bill" Chappelle (March 22, 1881 – December 31, 1944) was a right-handed pitcher out of Waterloo, New York, who spent the bulk of his long career as a workhorse in the high minors. He debuted in the majors on August 20, 1908, with the Boston Doves, split 1909 between Boston and the Cincinnati Reds, and resurfaced in 1914 with the Federal League's Brooklyn Tip-Tops. Over those three big-league seasons he posted a modest 7–7 record but a sparkling 2.38 ERA with 62 strikeouts. Most of his best work came in the minors — with clubs such as the Des Moines Underwriters, Memphis Egyptians, Mobile Sea Gulls, Chattanooga Lookouts and the Eastern League's Rochester Bronchos, the team shown on his T206 card. Chappelle earned a lasting footnote on September 17, 1910, when he pitched Mobile to a 2–1 win over Atlanta in a game that lasted just 32 minutes, long cited as the fastest professional game ever played. As a common minor-league subject, his card is an affordable, collectible piece of the classic T206 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (9)
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 | 615 | 19 | 47 | 90 | 153 | 110 | 126 | 70 |
| SGC | 396 | 3 | 7 | 49 | 49 | 116 | 65 | 107 |
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 | 313 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 73 |
| Sweet Caporal | 38 |
| Polar Bear | 33 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 12 |
| Cycle 1910 | 10 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 6 |
| Tolstoi | 5 |
| Carolina Brights | 5 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 4 |
| Unknown back | 116 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 4 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 3 |
| Cycle 1910 | 12 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 246 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 24 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 82 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 7 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bill Chappelle card?
The Bill Chappelle 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 Rochester Bronchos player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 9 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1011 examples of the Bill Chappelle have been graded, with only 22 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Bill Chappelle come with?
The Bill Chappelle is confirmed with 9 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Bill Chappelle 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 Rochester Bronchos 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.