1909-11 T206 Frank Oberlin
1909–11 T206 Frank Oberlin
Minneapolis Millers · American Association · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Frank Oberlin is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Frank Oberlin, a member of the historic Minneapolis Millers (American Association), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 9 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 889 examples have been graded, with only 22 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Frank Oberlin
Frank Rufus Oberlin was a right-handed pitcher whose T206 card captures him with the American Association's Minneapolis Millers, where he landed in 1908 after his brief big-league trials. A late bloomer from Elsie, Michigan, Oberlin did not turn professional until age 26, breaking in with the 1902 Lansing Senators of the Michigan State League before working his way up through Fort Wayne, Springfield, and Milwaukee. His major-league service was hard luck: he debuted with the Boston Americans in September 1906, was traded to the Washington Senators in 1907, and returned to Washington in 1909-1910, finishing with a 5-24 career record (2-8 for Boston, 3-16 for Washington). He was far better in the minors, posting an 81-85 mark over a long career that stretched to 1916 with the Utica Utes, for whom he reportedly threw two no-hitters near age 38. His nickname, "Flossie," came not from the diamond but from his fondness for embroidery and needlework. Never a Hall of Famer, Oberlin is one of the many obscure minor-league subjects that fill out the sprawling T206 checklist.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (9)
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 | 566 | 18 | 50 | 71 | 139 | 113 | 93 | 82 |
| SGC | 323 | 4 | 9 | 39 | 51 | 82 | 52 | 86 |
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 1910 | 279 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 78 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 32 |
| Sweet Caporal | 30 |
| Old Mill | 22 |
| Cycle 1910 | 14 |
| El Principe de Gales | 7 |
| Carolina Brights | 5 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 5 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Unknown back | 92 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 4 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 2 |
| Cycle 1910 | 2 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 7 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 12 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 203 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 15 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 77 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Frank Oberlin card?
The Frank Oberlin 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 Minneapolis Millers player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 9 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 889 examples of the Frank Oberlin 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 Frank Oberlin come with?
The Frank Oberlin is confirmed with 9 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Frank Oberlin 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 Minneapolis Millers 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.