1909-11 T206 Dick Hoblitzell
1909–11 T206 Dick Hoblitzell
Cincinnati Reds · National League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Dick Hoblitzell is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Dick Hoblitzell, a member of the historic Cincinnati Reds (National League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 12 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 908 examples have been graded, with only 18 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Dick Hoblitzell
Dick Hoblitzell entered pro ball in 1907 with Clarksburg, West Virginia, playing under the alias "Hollister" to protect his amateur standing; a shortstop by trade, he moved to first base when the regular first sacker was hurt and never left the position. After stops at Reading and Newark, the Cincinnati Reds purchased him in August 1908. As a rookie in 1909 he hit a career-best .308, third in the National League, and manned first base for Cincinnati through 1913. Traded to the Boston Red Sox in 1914, the sure-handed first baseman anchored two straight world champions, playing every game of the 1915 and 1916 World Series and batting .313 in the 1915 Fall Classic. Nicknamed "Hobby," a natural shortening of his surname, he retired with a .278 average over 1,284 big-league games. A practicing dentist in the offseason, he received an Army commission in June 1918 and left baseball for good; Boston won the 1918 title after his departure, granting him a partial $300 share. He died in 1962.
Sources: Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (12)
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 | 562 | 16 | 27 | 64 | 128 | 101 | 128 | 98 |
| SGC | 346 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 49 | 71 | 78 | 112 |
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 | 241 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 68 |
| Sweet Caporal | 44 |
| Old Mill | 27 |
| Polar Bear | 25 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 18 |
| El Principe de Gales | 14 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 11 |
| Cycle 1910 | 10 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Carolina Brights | 2 |
| Drum | 1 |
| Unknown back | 99 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 7 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 1 |
| Cycle 1910 | 7 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 6 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 15 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 179 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 27 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 17 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 82 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 4 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Dick Hoblitzell card?
The Dick Hoblitzell 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 Cincinnati Reds player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 12 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 908 examples of the Dick Hoblitzell have been graded, with only 18 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Dick Hoblitzell come with?
The Dick Hoblitzell is confirmed with 12 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, 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 Dick Hoblitzell 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 Cincinnati Reds 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 2026-07-01.