1909-11 T206 Claude Rossman
1909–11 T206 Claude Rossman
Detroit Tigers · American League · 350 Only print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Claude Rossman is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Claude Rossman, a member of the historic Detroit Tigers (American League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 854 examples have been graded, with only 25 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Claude Rossman
Claude Rossman was a left-handed first baseman born in 1881 in Philmont, New York. He broke into pro ball in 1903 with the Holyoke Paperweights, hitting .365, and reached the majors with the Cleveland Naps in 1904, returning to hit .308 for them in 1906. Sold to Detroit that December, he anchored first base alongside Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford as the Tigers won consecutive American League pennants in 1907 and 1908 under Hughie Jennings. Rossman batted .277 in 1907 and a career-best .294 in 1908; across five big-league seasons he hit .283 with 523 hits, 80 doubles, 238 RBIs and 49 stolen bases. He starred in the 1907 World Series, batting .474 with nine hits including a triple, though Detroit was swept both years by the Chicago Cubs. Celebrated as a superb sacrifice bunter — Cobb called him the best he ever saw — he later developed throwing "yips" that shortened his career. Traded to the St. Louis Browns in 1909, he finished as a minor-league star, hitting .356 for the 1911 Minneapolis Millers, and died in 1928. 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 | 510 | 21 | 29 | 64 | 110 | 114 | 98 | 74 |
| SGC | 344 | 4 | 12 | 32 | 52 | 81 | 71 | 92 |
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 | 302 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 65 |
| Sweet Caporal | 33 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 17 |
| Unknown back | 93 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1910 | 254 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 73 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Claude Rossman card?
The Claude Rossman 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 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 854 examples of the Claude Rossman have been graded, with only 25 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Claude Rossman come with?
The Claude Rossman 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 Claude Rossman 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 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)
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 2026-08-28.