1909–11 T206 Ed Willett
Detroit Tigers · American League · 350 Only print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Ed Willett is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Ed Willett, 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 972 examples have been graded, with only 19 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Ed Willett
Robert Edgar "Farmer" Willett was a right-handed pitcher who anchored the Detroit Tigers rotation through the franchise's greatest Deadball-era run. A Norfolk, Virginia native (born March 7, 1884), he broke into pro ball with the Class-C Wichita Jobbers of the Western Association in 1905, and Detroit purchased his contract in 1906. Willett pitched for the Tigers from 1906 to 1913, working as a durable workhorse who averaged roughly 245 innings a season at his peak. His finest year was 1909, when he went 21-10 with a 2.34 ERA, ranking third in the American League in wins, as Detroit captured its third straight AL pennant (1907-1909); the Tigers, however, lost all three World Series (to the Cubs in 1907-08 and the Pirates in 1909). Nicknamed "Farmer" for his rural Virginia farming roots, he finished with a career 102-100 record, 3.08 ERA, and 600 strikeouts over ten big-league seasons. In 1914 he jumped to the Federal League's St. Louis Terriers, closing out his major-league career in 1915. He died May 10, 1934. On the T206 set his surname is famously misspelled "Willetts."
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 | 579 | 13 | 26 | 79 | 139 | 113 | 121 | 88 |
| SGC | 393 | 6 | 5 | 51 | 78 | 87 | 64 | 102 |
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 | 322 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 68 |
| Sweet Caporal | 38 |
| Polar Bear | 36 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 9 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| Tolstoi | 3 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Drum | 1 |
| Unknown back | 92 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 3 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 272 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 22 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 88 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Ed Willett card?
The Ed Willett 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 972 examples of the Ed Willett have been graded, with only 19 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Ed Willett come with?
The Ed Willett is confirmed with 8 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Ed Willett 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.