1909-11 T206 Charley O'Leary (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Charley O'Leary
Detroit Tigers · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Charley O'Leary (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Charley O'Leary, a member of the historic Detroit Tigers (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1004 examples have been graded, with only 38 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Charley O'Leary
Born 1875 in Chicago, IL (d. 1941), Charley O'Leary was a right-handed shortstop who debuted in 1904 and played 11 major-league seasons. He batted .226 with 731 hits, 3 home runs, and 74 stolen bases in 955 games.
Confirmed backs (6)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 616 | 30 | 32 | 84 | 148 | 104 | 127 | 91 |
| SGC | 388 | 8 | 7 | 45 | 67 | 89 | 74 | 98 |
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 | 118 |
| Piedmont | 114 |
| Sweet Caporal | 84 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 70 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 44 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 28 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 11 |
| Sovereign | 10 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 10 |
| El Principe de Gales | 8 |
| Old Mill | 6 |
| Hindu | 5 |
| Unknown back | 108 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 5 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 5 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 161 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 58 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 18 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 95 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 36 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Charley O'Leary card?
The Charley O'Leary (Portrait) 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 Detroit Tigers player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1004 examples of the Charley O'Leary have been graded, with only 38 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Charley O'Leary come with?
The Charley O'Leary 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 Charley O'Leary 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 Charley O'Leary
More Detroit Tigers cards
- Donnie Bush
- Ty Cobb (Portrait - Green)
- Ty Cobb (Portrait - Red)
- Ty Cobb (Bat Off Shoulder)
- Ty Cobb (Bat On Shoulder)
- Sam Crawford (Throwing)
- Sam Crawford (With Bat)
- Wild Bill Donovan (Portrait)
- Wild Bill Donovan (Throwing)
- Hughie Jennings (One Hand Showing)
- Hughie Jennings (Two Hands Showing)
- Hughie Jennings (Portrait)