1909-11 T206 Ed Abbaticchio (Blue Sleeves)
1909–11 T206 Ed Abbaticchio
Pittsburgh Pirates · National League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Ed Abbaticchio (“Blue Sleeves” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Ed Abbaticchio, a member of the historic Pittsburgh Pirates (National League), and was printed in the 460 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 888 examples have been graded, with only 24 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Ed Abbaticchio
Born 1877 in Latrobe, PA (d. 1957), Ed Abbaticchio was a right-handed second baseman who debuted in 1897 and played 9 major-league seasons. He batted .254 with 772 hits, 11 home runs, and 142 stolen bases in 855 games.
Confirmed backs (11)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 529 | 20 | 30 | 69 | 116 | 98 | 112 | 84 |
| SGC | 359 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 44 | 99 | 82 | 100 |
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 1911 | 165 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 108 |
| Sweet Caporal | 74 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 23 |
| Polar Bear | 22 |
| Old Mill | 19 |
| Tolstoi | 12 |
| Lenox | 9 |
| Cycle 1911 | 7 |
| El Principe de Gales | 6 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 5 |
| Unknown back | 79 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1911 | 2 |
| Cycle 1911 | 4 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 6 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 9 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 16 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 138 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 18 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 25 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 11 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 120 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 9 |
| Uzit 1909-11 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Ed Abbaticchio card?
The Ed Abbaticchio (Blue Sleeves) 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 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 888 examples of the Ed Abbaticchio have been graded, with only 24 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Ed Abbaticchio come with?
The Ed Abbaticchio is confirmed with 11 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Uzit. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Ed Abbaticchio 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.