1909-11 T206 Deacon Phillippe
1909–11 T206 Deacon Phillippe
Pittsburgh Pirates · National League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Deacon Phillippe is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Deacon Phillippe, a member of the historic Pittsburgh Pirates (National League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 10 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1263 examples have been graded, with only 26 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Deacon Phillippe
Charles "Deacon" Phillippe was one of the Deadball Era's finest control pitchers. After playing semipro ball in South Dakota and pro ball in Minnesota, the right-hander was drafted by Louisville in 1898 and reached the majors in 1899 at age 26, throwing a no-hitter against the Giants on May 25, 1899, in just his seventh big-league game. When the National League contracted after 1899, Phillippe came to Pittsburgh alongside Honus Wagner and starred for the Pirates through 1911. A six-time 20-game winner who never had a losing season, he went 189-109 with a 2.59 ERA and 929 strikeouts, and his 1.25 walks per nine innings ranks among the best control marks of the modern era. He is best remembered as the winning pitcher of the first modern World Series game in 1903, when he made five complete-game starts and won three, beating Cy Young 7-3 in the opener. Nicknamed "Deacon" for his reticent, humble demeanor (he led a church choir in the offseason), he is a recognized member of the historic T206 set. He died in 1952.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (10)
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 | 768 | 23 | 57 | 106 | 186 | 158 | 135 | 103 |
| SGC | 495 | 3 | 15 | 49 | 88 | 124 | 89 | 127 |
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 | 379 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 74 |
| Sweet Caporal | 48 |
| Polar Bear | 28 |
| El Principe de Gales | 27 |
| Cycle 1910 | 23 |
| Carolina Brights | 20 |
| Tolstoi | 15 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 11 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 3 |
| Drum | 1 |
| Unknown back | 139 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 9 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 5 |
| Cycle 1910 | 11 |
| Drum 1910 | 1 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 37 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 289 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 1 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 28 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 104 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 8 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Deacon Phillippe card?
The Deacon Phillippe 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 Pittsburgh Pirates player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 10 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1263 examples of the Deacon Phillippe have been graded, with only 26 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Deacon Phillippe come with?
The Deacon Phillippe is confirmed with 10 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Deacon Phillippe 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 Pittsburgh Pirates 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 2026-08-28.