1909-11 T206 Ed Abbaticchio (Brown Sleeves)
1909–11 T206 Ed Abbaticchio
Pittsburgh Pirates · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Ed Abbaticchio (“Brown 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 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 881 examples have been graded, with only 16 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 (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 533 | 13 | 24 | 59 | 135 | 110 | 110 | 82 |
| SGC | 348 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 70 | 88 | 57 | 101 |
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 | 122 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 118 |
| Sweet Caporal | 52 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 46 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 31 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 26 |
| Old Mill | 14 |
| Sovereign | 13 |
| El Principe de Gales | 12 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 8 |
| Unknown back | 82 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 6 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 5 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 150 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 53 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 14 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 15 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 75 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 30 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Ed Abbaticchio card?
The Ed Abbaticchio (Brown 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 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 881 examples of the Ed Abbaticchio 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 Ed Abbaticchio come with?
The Ed Abbaticchio is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. 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.