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
William Martin "Muskrat Bill" Shipke was a slick-fielding deadball-era third baseman remembered far more for his glove than his bat. A St. Louis native, he broke into pro ball with the semipro Springfield Reds around 1901 and rose through the Missouri Valley and Western leagues, starring for the Omaha Rourkes, where he led the Western League with 10 home runs in 1905. That defense earned him a big-league look: he debuted with the Cleveland Naps in 1906, then played third and second base for the Washington Senators from 1907 to 1909. Across parts of four major-league seasons he hit just .199 with a single home run (off Boston, September 17, 1907) in 552 at-bats, but his range and "catlike agility" drew constant raves, including a celebrated diving stop on a Sam Crawford bunt in 1908. He earned the nickname "Muskrat Bill" (also "Trapper Bill") from his offseason habit of trapping muskrats and catfish from a houseboat. Washington sold him to Omaha in 1909, ending his majors career; he later scouted for the Reds and Indians and died in Omaha in 1940. Shipke is one of the T206 set's many obscure, common Washington players.
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 | 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 this T206 card?
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.
More Washington Senators 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.