1909-11 T206 Bob Groom
1909–11 T206 Bob Groom
Washington Senators · American League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Bob Groom is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bob Groom, a member of the historic Washington Senators (American League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 878 examples have been graded, with only 28 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bob Groom
Robert "Bob" Groom (1884–1948), a hard-throwing right-hander from Belleville, Illinois, entered pro ball in 1904 with the Fort Scott Giants of the Missouri Valley League and spent five minor-league seasons before Washington bought his contract for $1,750; in 1908 he led the Pacific Coast League with 29 wins for the Portland Beavers. He reached the majors with the Washington Nationals (Senators) in 1909 and pitched a decade for Washington (1909–1913), the Federal League's St. Louis Terriers (1914–1915), the St. Louis Browns (1916–1917), and Cleveland (1918). His rough 7-26 rookie year tied the American League record for single-season losses, but his best season came in 1912, when he went 24-12 over 316 innings and won four games during Washington's famed 17-game winning streak. Nicknamed "Belleville Bob" for his hometown, Groom is best remembered for throwing a no-hitter against the eventual World Champion White Sox on May 6, 1917 — one day after Browns teammate Ernie Koob's own no-hitter, the only time teammates have no-hit an opponent on consecutive days. He finished 119-150 and later ran the family coal business. This is a "350 Only" series card and Groom is not a Hall of Famer.
Sources: Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (6)
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 | 547 | 21 | 29 | 72 | 132 | 112 | 101 | 80 |
| SGC | 331 | 7 | 16 | 49 | 55 | 82 | 51 | 71 |
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 | 283 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 58 |
| Sweet Caporal | 50 |
| Polar Bear | 32 |
| El Principe de Gales | 17 |
| Tolstoi | 13 |
| Carolina Brights | 7 |
| Unknown back | 87 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 5 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 16 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 213 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 33 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 56 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 8 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bob Groom card?
The Bob Groom 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 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 878 examples of the Bob Groom have been graded, with only 28 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Bob Groom come with?
The Bob Groom is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: Carolina Brights, El Principe de Gales, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Bob Groom 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 2026-07-01.