1909-11 T206 Chief Bender (No Trees)
1909–11 T206 Chief Bender
Philadelphia Athletics · American League · 350-460 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Chief Bender (“No Trees” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Chief Bender, a member of the historic Philadelphia Athletics (American League), and was printed in the 350-460 series, known with 13 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1383 examples have been graded, with only 14 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Chief Bender
Born 1884 in Crow Wing County, MN (d. 1954), Chief Bender was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1903 and played 16 major-league seasons. He went 212-127 with a 2.46 ERA and 1,711 strikeouts across 459 appearances. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953. Connie Mack's most trusted big-game pitcher, he started and won the opener of the 1910 World Series with a three-hit complete game and threw a no-hitter that same season.
Confirmed backs (13)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 793 | 13 | 31 | 74 | 167 | 151 | 189 | 168 |
| SGC | 590 | 1 | 6 | 45 | 66 | 131 | 117 | 224 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Polar Bear | 96 |
| Sweet Caporal | 95 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 71 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 68 |
| Piedmont | 63 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 59 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 49 |
| Old Mill | 48 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 21 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 20 |
| Cycle 1911 | 16 |
| Tolstoi | 12 |
| El Principe de Gales | 11 |
| Lenox | 2 |
| Hindu | 2 |
| Drum | 1 |
| Unknown back | 159 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 16 |
| Cycle 1911 | 10 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 21 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 1 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 5 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 36 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 96 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 67 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 92 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 19 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 126 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 79 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 21 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Chief Bender card?
The Chief Bender (No Trees) 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 Philadelphia Athletics player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 13 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1383 examples of the Chief Bender have been graded, with only 14 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Chief Bender come with?
The Chief Bender is confirmed with 13 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Chief Bender 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.