1909–11 T206 Frank Chance
Chicago Cubs · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Frank Chance (“Portrait - Red” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Frank Chance, a member of the historic Chicago Cubs (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1285 examples have been graded, with only 30 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Frank Chance
Frank Leroy Chance (1876-1924), a Fresno-born first baseman, was signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1898 after outfielder Bill Lange spotted him in California semipro ball. A reserve catcher for his first five seasons, he moved to first base in 1903 and flourished, batting .327 and leading the National League with 67 stolen bases. As the anchor of the "Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance" double-play trio immortalized in Franklin P. Adams' poem "Baseball's Sad Lexicon," he became the Cubs' player-manager in 1905. He guided Chicago to a record 116 wins in 1906 and to back-to-back World Series titles in 1907 and 1908. Nicknamed the "Peerless Leader" for his commanding style (and "Husk" for his sturdy build), he retired with a .296 average, roughly 1,273 hits, and about 401 stolen bases. He later managed the Yankees and Red Sox and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1946. A National-League Hall-of-Famer, his card is a sought-after subject in the T206 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (6)
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 | 714 | 26 | 29 | 67 | 131 | 152 | 141 | 168 |
| SGC | 571 | 4 | 1 | 44 | 55 | 119 | 129 | 219 |
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 1909 | 130 |
| Piedmont | 129 |
| Sweet Caporal | 78 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 63 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 46 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 41 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 17 |
| Sovereign | 15 |
| Hindu | 12 |
| El Principe de Gales | 12 |
| Old Mill | 9 |
| Unknown back | 162 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909 | 4 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 9 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 13 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 10 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 254 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 67 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 32 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 130 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 2 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 50 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Frank Chance card?
The Frank Chance (Portrait - Red) 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 Chicago Cubs player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1285 examples of the Frank Chance have been graded, with only 30 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Frank Chance come with?
The Frank Chance is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Frank Chance 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 Frank Chance
More Chicago Cubs 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 2026-10-05.