1909-11 T206 Carl Lundgren (Kansas City)
1909–11 T206 Carl Lundgren
Kansas City Blues · American Association · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Carl Lundgren (“Kansas City” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Carl Lundgren, a member of the historic Kansas City Blues (American Association), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 624 examples have been graded, with only 7 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Carl Lundgren
Carl Leonard Lundgren was a right-handed pitcher signed directly off the University of Illinois campus by the Chicago Cubs, making his major-league debut on June 19, 1902. He spent his entire eight-season big-league career with the Cubs (1902-1909), going 91-55 with a 2.42 ERA, 535 strikeouts and 19 shutouts. His masterpiece came in 1907, when he went 18-7 with a 1.17 ERA (second in the National League) and allowed no home runs. Lundgren was a key arm on Chicago's back-to-back World Series champions of 1907 and 1908 (the club won pennants in 1906, 1907 and 1908), though manager Frank Chance never used him in a World Series game. Teammates dubbed him the "Human Icicle" (also "Human Cucumber") for his cool temperament and uncanny effectiveness in cold early-season weather. When his arm faded he dropped to the minors — the era the T206 card captures, picturing him with the American Association's Kansas City Blues. He later became a successful college coach at Michigan and Illinois, winning five Big Ten titles, and died in 1934. He is not a Hall of Famer.
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 | 370 | 6 | 24 | 42 | 101 | 70 | 71 | 56 |
| SGC | 254 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 47 | 59 | 51 | 76 |
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 | 225 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 53 |
| El Principe de Gales | 26 |
| Carolina Brights | 7 |
| Unknown back | 59 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 7 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 25 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 192 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 30 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Carl Lundgren card?
The Carl Lundgren (Kansas City) 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 Kansas City Blues player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 624 examples of the Carl Lundgren have been graded, with only 7 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Carl Lundgren come with?
The Carl Lundgren is confirmed with 4 tobacco-brand backs: Carolina Brights, El Principe de Gales, Piedmont, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Carl Lundgren 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 Carl Lundgren
More Kansas City Blues 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.