1909–11 T206 Ed Karger
Cincinnati Reds · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Ed Karger is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Ed Karger, a member of the historic Cincinnati Reds (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 692 examples have been graded, with only 22 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Ed Karger
Edwin "Loose" Karger (1883-1957) was a left-handed pitcher who broke in after starring in semipro ball in the Arizona Territory mining towns; discovered pitching for Tucson in 1905, he signed with Houston of the South Texas League, went 24-8, and earned MVP honors. He reached the majors in 1906 and pitched six big-league seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1906), St. Louis Cardinals (1906-1908), Cincinnati Reds (1909), and Boston Red Sox (1909-1911), finishing 48-67 with a 2.79 ERA. His best year came with the 1907 Cardinals, when he worked 314 innings, led the club with 15 wins, and posted a 2.04 ERA. On August 11, 1907, in the seven-inning second game of a doubleheader against the Boston Doves, Karger retired all 21 batters he faced for a 4-0 abbreviated perfect game. His nickname "Loose" is thought to trace to either his relaxed manner or his sidearm delivery. In 1937 Ty Cobb named Karger among the toughest left-handers he ever faced. Karger appears in the T206 set as a Cincinnati Red; he is a common, non-Hall-of-Fame subject.
Sources: Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (4)
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 | 437 | 21 | 30 | 36 | 86 | 81 | 108 | 75 |
| SGC | 255 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 44 | 51 | 38 | 92 |
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 1909 | 115 |
| Piedmont | 106 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 57 |
| Sweet Caporal | 43 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 23 |
| El Principe de Gales | 14 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 14 |
| Unknown back | 65 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 13 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 150 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 8 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 16 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 68 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Ed Karger card?
The Ed Karger 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 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 692 examples of the Ed Karger have been graded, with only 22 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Ed Karger come with?
The Ed Karger is confirmed with 4 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Ed Karger 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 2026-08-28.