1909–11 T206 Billy Sullivan
Chicago White Sox · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Billy Sullivan is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Billy Sullivan, a member of the historic Chicago White Sox (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 917 examples have been graded, with only 16 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Billy Sullivan
William Joseph "Billy" Sullivan (1875-1965) took up catching as a Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin schoolboy and turned pro with Cedar Rapids of the Western Association in 1896. After a season with the Boston Beaneaters in 1900, he settled in as the Chicago White Sox's regular catcher from 1901 through 1912, the backbone of the franchise's first great era. A notoriously weak hitter, Sullivan batted just .213 for his career - the second-lowest average of any player with 3,000-plus at-bats - but he was prized entirely for his defense and pitcher-handling; Ty Cobb called him the finest catcher "ever to wear shoe leather," and Sullivan is credited with patenting an inflatable chest protector in 1908. He caught two pennant winners (1901 and 1906) and starred behind the plate for the 1906 "Hitless Wonders," who upset the crosstown Cubs in the World Series. Sullivan went hitless in 21 Series at-bats yet caught every inning as his staff posted a 1.33 ERA. His son Billy Jr. also reached the majors, making them the first father-son pair to appear in a World Series. Sullivan is not in the Hall of Fame; his T206 card is a common but well-collected White Sox subject.
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 | 543 | 13 | 39 | 63 | 141 | 97 | 108 | 82 |
| SGC | 374 | 3 | 11 | 38 | 71 | 94 | 52 | 105 |
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 | 108 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 104 |
| Sweet Caporal | 62 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 56 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 36 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 30 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| Sovereign | 11 |
| Hindu | 11 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 10 |
| Old Mill | 8 |
| Unknown back | 91 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 23 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 9 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 142 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 68 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 14 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 78 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 24 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Billy Sullivan card?
The Billy Sullivan 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 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 917 examples of the Billy Sullivan have been graded, with only 16 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Billy Sullivan come with?
The Billy Sullivan is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Billy Sullivan 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 Chicago White Sox 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.