1909-11 T206 Bob Spade
1909–11 T206 Bob Spade
Cincinnati Reds · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Bob Spade is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bob Spade, a member of the historic Cincinnati Reds (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 851 examples have been graded, with only 21 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bob Spade
Robert "Curley Bob" Spade was a right-handed pitcher born January 4, 1877, in Akron, Ohio. Recruited off Akron semipro diamonds, he first turned pro in 1896 with Youngstown of the Interstate League, then returned to the professional ranks in 1905 at age 28, working through the Southern and SALLY circuits (Macon, Jacksonville, Atlanta) before reaching the majors. He debuted with the Cincinnati Reds in 1907 and pitched four big-league seasons (1907-1910), all with Cincinnati except a brief 1910 stint with the St. Louis Browns. His breakout came in 1908, when he went 17-12 with a 2.74 ERA and tied ace Bob Ewing for the Reds' team lead in wins. His other seasons were modest, and he finished with a career mark of 25-24, a 2.96 ERA, and 121 strikeouts. Nicknamed "Curley Bob" for his wavy black hair, Spade was out of pro ball by 1913 amid a sore arm and a fondness for drink; he later ran a bar and umpired, and died in poverty in 1924, buried with funds Cincinnati fans collected in his memory. He is a common-series (150-350) subject in the T206 set, not a Hall of Famer.
Sources: Wikipedia · 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 | 543 | 18 | 29 | 61 | 132 | 119 | 104 | 80 |
| SGC | 308 | 3 | 6 | 28 | 42 | 70 | 68 | 91 |
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 | 120 |
| Piedmont | 113 |
| Sweet Caporal | 69 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 47 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 34 |
| El Principe de Gales | 21 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 19 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 17 |
| Hindu | 13 |
| Old Mill | 7 |
| Unknown back | 83 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 8 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 16 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 2 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 127 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 38 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 12 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 80 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 25 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bob Spade card?
The Bob Spade 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 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 851 examples of the Bob Spade 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 Bob Spade come with?
The Bob Spade is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Bob Spade 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 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 2026-08-28.