1909-11 T206 Ed Konetchy (Glove Near Ground)
1909–11 T206 Ed Konetchy
St Louis Cardinals · National League · 350-460 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Ed Konetchy (“Glove Near Ground” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Ed Konetchy, a member of the historic St Louis Cardinals (National League), and was printed in the 350-460 series, known with 13 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 991 examples have been graded, with only 28 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Ed Konetchy
One of the deadball era's premier fielding first basemen, Ed Konetchy came up hard: he worked ten-hour shifts at a LaCrosse, Wisconsin candy factory from age 14, playing ball after work, before catching on with the local Class D club at 19 and settling in at first base. He reached the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1907 and starred there through 1913, later playing for the Pirates, the Federal League's Pittsburgh Stogies, the Boston Braves, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia through 1921. A right-handed hitter, he batted .281 with 2,150 hits, 344 doubles, and 182 triples (long among the all-time top 20), and led the NL with 38 doubles in 1911. His glove was his calling card: he paced NL first basemen in fielding eight times and won the 1910 fielding Triple Crown. In 1915 he set career highs in the Federal League, batting .314. He finally reached a pennant with the 1920 Brooklyn Dodgers, who lost the World Series to Cleveland, where he set a first baseman's Series record for chances accepted. Nicknamed "the Candy Kid" for his factory beginnings (and "Koney" in the boxscores), he was inducted into Wisconsin's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1961. He is a common, non-Hall-of-Fame subject in the T206 set.
Sources: Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (13)
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 | 581 | 23 | 48 | 73 | 143 | 100 | 104 | 90 |
| SGC | 410 | 5 | 11 | 48 | 64 | 89 | 77 | 116 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Sweet Caporal | 69 |
| Polar Bear | 63 |
| Piedmont | 62 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 62 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 55 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 45 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 32 |
| Old Mill | 29 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 18 |
| Tolstoi | 15 |
| El Principe de Gales | 12 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 9 |
| Cycle 1911 | 5 |
| Hindu | 3 |
| Drum | 2 |
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 1 |
| Unknown back | 99 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1909-11 | 1 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 14 |
| Cycle 1911 | 10 |
| Drum 1910 | 1 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 12 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 1 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 14 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 79 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 39 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 68 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 19 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 86 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 49 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 17 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Ed Konetchy card?
The Ed Konetchy (Glove Near Ground) 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 St Louis Cardinals player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 13 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 991 examples of the Ed Konetchy have been graded, with only 28 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Ed Konetchy come with?
The Ed Konetchy is confirmed with 13 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Lenox, 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 Ed Konetchy 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.
Other poses of Ed Konetchy
More St Louis Cardinals 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.