1909–11 T206 Bill Clancy
Buffalo Bisons · Eastern League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Bill Clancy is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bill Clancy, a member of the historic Buffalo Bisons (Eastern League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 7 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 764 examples have been graded, with only 17 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bill Clancy
William Edward Clancy (April 12, 1879 – February 10, 1948) was a left-handed-hitting first baseman who, after amateur ball around Utica, New York, turned pro with the Worcester Hustlers of the Eastern League in 1902. He starred in the high minors — batting .317 and leading the league with 21 triples for Montreal in 1903 — and enjoyed his lone major-league trial with the 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates, hitting .229 with 2 home runs and 34 RBIs before owner Barney Dreyfuss released him. Clancy famously spurned the majors, telling reporters he could earn more in the Eastern League; sportswriters mocked the reluctant star as "William the Chicken-Hearted." Across 11 minor-league seasons through 1912 he played for Rochester, Buffalo, Baltimore and others, even managing along the way. His T206 card depicts him with Buffalo of the Eastern League, making him one of the set's minor-league subjects rather than a big-league name.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (7)
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 | 470 | 15 | 23 | 65 | 101 | 100 | 96 | 70 |
| SGC | 294 | 2 | 3 | 38 | 34 | 80 | 66 | 71 |
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 | 235 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 36 |
| Sweet Caporal | 34 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 31 |
| Polar Bear | 27 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 14 |
| Cycle 1910 | 9 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 4 |
| Unknown back | 80 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 8 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 175 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 31 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 30 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 42 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bill Clancy card?
The Bill Clancy 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 Buffalo Bisons player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 7 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 764 examples of the Bill Clancy have been graded, with only 17 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Bill Clancy come with?
The Bill Clancy is confirmed with 7 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Bill Clancy 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 Buffalo Bisons 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.