1909-11 T206 Chief Bender (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Chief Bender
Philadelphia Athletics · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Chief Bender (“Portrait” 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 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1590 examples have been graded, with only 35 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.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 899 | 30 | 27 | 84 | 166 | 200 | 193 | 199 |
| SGC | 691 | 5 | 5 | 55 | 67 | 130 | 155 | 274 |
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 | 163 |
| Piedmont | 151 |
| Sweet Caporal | 87 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 87 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 70 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 42 |
| Sovereign | 22 |
| El Principe de Gales | 18 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 11 |
| Old Mill | 9 |
| Unknown back | 223 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 22 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 6 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 294 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 124 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 16 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 23 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 134 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 71 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Chief Bender card?
The Chief Bender (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 Philadelphia Athletics player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1590 examples of the Chief Bender have been graded, with only 35 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 5 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. 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.