1909-11 T206 Bill Shipke
1909–11 T206 Bill Shipke
Washington Senators · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Bill Shipke is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bill Shipke, a member of the historic Washington Senators (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 782 examples have been graded, with only 21 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bill Shipke
Born 1882 in St. Louis, MO (d. 1940), Bill Shipke was a right-handed third baseman who debuted in 1906 and played 4 major-league seasons. He batted .199 with 110 hits, 1 home runs, and 21 stolen bases in 186 games.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 433 | 17 | 30 | 48 | 89 | 84 | 90 | 75 |
| SGC | 349 | 4 | 8 | 34 | 52 | 81 | 62 | 108 |
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 | 97 |
| Sweet Caporal | 61 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 55 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 34 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 32 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 17 |
| Sovereign | 16 |
| El Principe de Gales | 13 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 6 |
| Old Mill | 4 |
| Unknown back | 98 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 13 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 126 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 65 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 21 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 68 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 45 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bill Shipke card?
The Bill Shipke 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 Washington Senators player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 782 examples of the Bill Shipke have been graded, with only 21 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Bill Shipke come with?
The Bill Shipke is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Bill Shipke 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.