1909-11 T206 Billy Purtell
1909–11 T206 Billy Purtell
Chicago White Sox · American League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Billy Purtell is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Billy Purtell, a member of the historic Chicago White Sox (American League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 12 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 846 examples have been graded, with only 12 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Billy Purtell
Born 1886 in Columbus, OH (d. 1962), Billy Purtell was a right-handed third baseman who debuted in 1908 and played 5 major-league seasons. He batted .227 with 255 hits, 2 home runs, and 24 stolen bases in 335 games.
Confirmed backs (12)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 488 | 10 | 29 | 62 | 104 | 80 | 114 | 89 |
| SGC | 358 | 2 | 7 | 33 | 53 | 88 | 68 | 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 | 149 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 70 |
| Sweet Caporal | 51 |
| Polar Bear | 39 |
| Old Mill | 23 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 20 |
| El Principe de Gales | 9 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 6 |
| Tolstoi | 6 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Drum | 2 |
| Unknown back | 103 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 1 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Cycle 1910 | 7 |
| Drum 1910 | 1 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 6 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 19 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 186 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 33 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 11 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 90 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 2 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Billy Purtell card?
The Billy Purtell 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 Chicago White Sox player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 12 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 846 examples of the Billy Purtell have been graded, with only 12 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Billy Purtell come with?
The Billy Purtell is confirmed with 12 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Billy Purtell 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.