1909–11 T206 Bobby Byrne
St Louis Cardinals · National League · 350 Only print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Bobby Byrne is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bobby Byrne, a member of the historic St Louis Cardinals (National League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 791 examples have been graded, with only 32 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bobby Byrne
Bobby Byrne was a scrappy, pint-sized third baseman of the deadball era, standing just under 5-foot-8 and weighing about 145 pounds. Born in St. Louis on December 31, 1884, he turned professional in 1904 as a shortstop with Fort Scott of the Missouri Valley League before reaching the majors with his hometown St. Louis Cardinals in 1907, where manager John McCloskey shifted him to third base. Traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1909, Byrne enjoyed his finest year in 1910, posting career highs of a .296 average, 101 runs, and 36 stolen bases while leading the National League with 43 doubles and tying teammate Honus Wagner for the league lead with 178 hits. He later played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox, finishing an 11-year career (1907-1917). In the 1909 World Series, won by Pittsburgh, Byrne broke his ankle attempting to steal third in Game Seven. He died in 1964 on his 80th birthday.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (4)
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 | 463 | 22 | 36 | 65 | 96 | 75 | 96 | 73 |
| SGC | 328 | 10 | 7 | 38 | 65 | 66 | 58 | 84 |
NM 7+ bundles grades 7–10; 1 & Auth bundles grade 1, 1.5 & Authentic. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are subject-level (summed across all backs). Population as of 2026-06.
PSA by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1910 | 278 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 49 |
| Sweet Caporal | 28 |
| Tolstoi | 12 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 12 |
| Unknown back | 84 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1910 | 231 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 2 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 15 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 75 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bobby Byrne card?
The Bobby Byrne 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 St Louis Cardinals player and was inserted in tobacco packs across 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 791 examples of the Bobby Byrne have been graded, with only 32 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Bobby Byrne come with?
The Bobby Byrne is confirmed with 4 tobacco-brand backs: Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Bobby Byrne 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 St Louis Cardinals 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 2026-10-05.