1909–11 T206 Ed Summers
Detroit Tigers · American League · 350 Only print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Ed Summers is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Ed Summers, a member of the historic Detroit Tigers (American League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 8 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 901 examples have been graded, with only 20 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Ed Summers
Oren Edgar "Kickapoo Ed" Summers (1884-1953) was a right-handed pitcher and one of professional baseball's earliest knuckleball artists, having learned the pitch from Frosty Thomas around 1907. A Ladoga, Indiana native who pitched for Wabash College and semipro ball, he worked through the minors with Marion, Springfield, Grand Rapids and Indianapolis before Detroit purchased his contract in 1907. Summers debuted for the Tigers on April 16, 1908, and immediately became the staff ace: he went 24-12 with a 1.64 ERA over 301 innings as a rookie, including a 7-0 mark against the Athletics, helping Detroit win the American League pennant. He followed with a 19-9, 24-complete-game 1909 season. Rheumatic knees and a dead arm ended his career after 1912, leaving him 68-45 with a 2.42 ERA across five seasons, all with Detroit. His nickname referenced the Kickapoo region of Indiana, not Native heritage. He remains best known for an unhappy distinction: an 0-4 record in the 1908 and 1909 World Series, both losses to opposing pennant winners.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (8)
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 | 551 | 15 | 41 | 74 | 130 | 96 | 120 | 75 |
| SGC | 350 | 5 | 5 | 53 | 50 | 83 | 70 | 84 |
NM 7+ bundles grades 7–10; 1 & Auth bundles grade 1, 1.5 & Authentic. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are subject-level (summed across all backs). Population as of 2026-06.
PSA by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1910 | 289 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 61 |
| Sweet Caporal | 52 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 20 |
| Cycle 1910 | 10 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 5 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 3 |
| Tolstoi | 2 |
| Unknown back | 109 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 5 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Cycle 1910 | 4 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 242 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 14 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 81 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 3 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Ed Summers card?
The Ed Summers 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 Detroit Tigers player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 8 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 901 examples of the Ed Summers have been graded, with only 20 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Ed Summers come with?
The Ed Summers is confirmed with 8 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Ed Summers 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 Detroit Tigers cards
- Donnie Bush
- Ty Cobb (Portrait - Green)
- Ty Cobb (Portrait - Red)
- Ty Cobb (Bat Off Shoulder)
- Ty Cobb (Bat On Shoulder)
- Sam Crawford (Throwing)
- Sam Crawford (With Bat)
- Wild Bill Donovan (Portrait)
- Wild Bill Donovan (Throwing)
- Hughie Jennings (One Hand Showing)
- Hughie Jennings (Two Hands Showing)
- Hughie Jennings (Portrait)
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 2026-10-05.