1909-11 T206 Bob Bescher (Hands In Air)
1909–11 T206 Bob Bescher
Cincinnati Reds · National League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Bob Bescher (“Hands In Air” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bob Bescher, a member of the historic Cincinnati Reds (National League), and was printed in the 460 Only series, known with 10 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 792 examples have been graded, with only 16 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bob Bescher
Robert Henry Bescher, born in London, Ohio in 1884, attended Notre Dame and starred as a football halfback at Wittenberg before signing his first pro baseball contract in 1906. A big (6'1"), switch-hitting leadoff man and left fielder, he was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds after a strong 1909 minor-league season and made the majors to stay. Bescher became one of the deadball era's premier base stealers, leading the National League in stolen bases four straight years from 1909 through 1912. In 1911 he swiped 81 bases—breaking his own 1910 mark of 70 and setting a modern NL record that stood until Maury Wills in 1962, and a Reds franchise record that lasted until 1962. In 1912 he led the league with 120 runs and finished fifth in Chalmers (MVP) voting. Nicknamed "The London Flash" for his hometown and blazing speed, he played 11 seasons (1908–1918) for Cincinnati, the New York Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cleveland, batting .258 with 1,171 hits and 428 career steals, but never reached a World Series. He died in 1942 when a train struck his car near London, Ohio.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (10)
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 | 485 | 13 | 40 | 70 | 121 | 92 | 81 | 68 |
| SGC | 307 | 3 | 6 | 30 | 47 | 67 | 52 | 102 |
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 1911 | 185 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 80 |
| Sweet Caporal | 59 |
| Polar Bear | 24 |
| Old Mill | 15 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 15 |
| Tolstoi | 14 |
| El Principe de Gales | 8 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 7 |
| Cycle 1911 | 6 |
| Lenox | 4 |
| Unknown back | 68 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1911 | 3 |
| Cycle 1911 | 2 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 8 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 1 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 13 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 133 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 16 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 17 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 99 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 14 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bob Bescher card?
The Bob Bescher (Hands In Air) 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 Cincinnati Reds player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 10 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 792 examples of the Bob Bescher 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 Bob Bescher come with?
The Bob Bescher is confirmed with 10 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Lenox, 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 Bob Bescher 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 Bob Bescher
More Cincinnati Reds 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 2026-07-01.