1909-11 T206 Bill Dahlen (Boston)
1909–11 T206 Bill Dahlen
Boston Doves · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Bill Dahlen (“Boston” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bill Dahlen, a member of the historic Boston Doves (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 881 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 Dahlen
"Bad Bill" Dahlen was one of the finest shortstops of the deadball and 19th-century eras. Born in Nelliston, New York, in 1870, he broke in with the New York State League's Cobleskill club in 1890 and debuted with the Chicago Colts on April 22, 1891. Over 21 seasons (1891-1911) he starred for Chicago, Brooklyn, the New York Giants, and the Boston Doves. His best year was 1894, when he hit .359 with a 42-game hitting streak (still fourth-longest all-time), and he led the National League in RBIs in 1904. Dahlen won NL pennants with Brooklyn in 1899 and 1900 and a World Series title with the 1905 Giants. His nickname came from a fiery temperament—he was ejected roughly 65 times as a player and manager. He retired with 2,457 hits, 547 stolen bases, 1,233 RBIs, and 2,443 games, and was named SABR's Overlooked 19th Century Legend in 2012, though he remains outside Cooperstown.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (5)
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 | 507 | 16 | 19 | 56 | 92 | 88 | 106 | 130 |
| SGC | 374 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 32 | 80 | 83 | 135 |
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 | 143 |
| Piedmont | 102 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 64 |
| Sweet Caporal | 57 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 22 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 14 |
| El Principe de Gales | 13 |
| Hindu | 9 |
| Unknown back | 83 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 5 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 10 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 230 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 1 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 17 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 111 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bill Dahlen card?
The Bill Dahlen (Boston) 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 Boston Doves player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 881 examples of the Bill Dahlen 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 Dahlen come with?
The Bill Dahlen is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Bill Dahlen 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 Dahlen
More Boston Doves 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.