1909–11 T206 Del Howard
Chicago Cubs · National League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Del Howard is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Del Howard, a member of the historic Chicago Cubs (National League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 8 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 850 examples have been graded, with only 16 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Del Howard
George Elmer "Del" Howard, born Christmas Eve 1877 in Kenney, Illinois, came out of independent ball in Mattoon and hit .316 for the Class A Omaha Rangers in 1904 before reaching the majors. A left-handed hitter who filled in at first base and all three outfield spots, he broke in with a brief 1904 Philadelphia stint and then played regularly for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1905), the Boston Beaneaters/Doves (1906-1907), and the Chicago Cubs (1907-1909). Howard batted .263 with 193 RBIs over 536 big-league games, his best year coming in 1908 when he hit .279 for Chicago. His signature distinction is being a useful backup on Frank Chance's Cubs dynasty: he appeared in both the 1907 and 1908 World Series and earned two championship rings as the Cubs won back-to-back titles, pinch-hitting in the 1908 Fall Classic against Detroit. After 1909, his final MLB season, Howard spent more than a decade managing and playing in the minors—Louisville, St. Paul, San Francisco, and Oakland—and became part-owner and manager of the Pacific Coast League's Oakland Oaks, a stake he held until his death on his 78th birthday in 1956. He is a common, non-Hall-of-Fame subject in the T206 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (8)
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 | 515 | 9 | 45 | 71 | 126 | 109 | 93 | 62 |
| SGC | 335 | 7 | 5 | 39 | 51 | 84 | 61 | 88 |
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 | 282 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 41 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 32 |
| Sweet Caporal | 26 |
| Polar Bear | 24 |
| Tolstoi | 11 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 8 |
| Unknown back | 83 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 6 |
| Cycle 1910 | 10 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 3 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 209 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 29 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 27 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 43 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 7 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Del Howard card?
The Del Howard 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 Chicago Cubs player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 8 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 850 examples of the Del Howard have been graded, with only 16 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Del Howard come with?
The Del Howard is confirmed with 8 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Del Howard 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 Chicago Cubs cards
- George Brown (Chicago)
- Mordecai Brown (Chicago On Shirt)
- Mordecai Brown (Cubs On Shirt)
- Mordecai Brown (Portrait)
- Frank Chance (Batting)
- Frank Chance (Portrait - Red)
- Frank Chance (Portrait - Yellow)
- Johnny Evers (Portrait)
- Johnny Evers (Chicago On Shirt - Yellow Sky)
- Johnny Evers (Cubs On Shirt - Blue Sky)
- Solly Hofman
- Johnny Kling
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.