1909–11 T206 Frank Smith
Chicago White Sox · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Frank Smith (“F. Smith” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Frank Smith, a member of the historic Chicago White Sox (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 947 examples have been graded, with only 21 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Frank Smith
Frank Elmer Smith, a Pittsburgh native, signed with Erie in 1900 and worked up through the Southern League before Chicago drafted him in 1904. A right-handed pitcher armed with a sharp drop ball, curve, and spitball, he anchored the "Hitless Wonders" White Sox staff, winning 104 games for the club from 1904 through 1909 and pitching for the 1906 World Series champions. His finest year came in 1909, when he went 25-17 with a 1.80 ERA and led the American League in both strikeouts (177) and innings pitched (365). Smith threw two no-hitters for Chicago — September 6, 1905 against Detroit and September 20, 1908 against Philadelphia — and remained the only White Sox pitcher with two no-hitters until Mark Buehrle a century later. Nicknamed the "Piano Mover" for his offseason furniture-hauling work (he boasted he could carry a baby grand up four flights without resting), Smith later pitched for Boston, Cincinnati, and in the Federal League, finishing 139-111 with a 2.59 ERA and 1,051 strikeouts.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (4)
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 | 590 | 17 | 41 | 63 | 138 | 110 | 127 | 94 |
| SGC | 357 | 4 | 7 | 40 | 46 | 84 | 58 | 118 |
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 1909 | 123 |
| Piedmont | 117 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 61 |
| Sweet Caporal | 55 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 37 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 36 |
| Sovereign | 11 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 11 |
| Old Mill | 10 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Unknown back | 120 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 6 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 146 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 55 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 13 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 24 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 78 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 35 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Frank Smith card?
The Frank Smith (F. Smith) 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 White Sox player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 947 examples of the Frank Smith have been graded, with only 21 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Frank Smith come with?
The Frank Smith is confirmed with 4 tobacco-brand backs: Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Frank Smith 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 Smith
More Chicago White Sox 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 2026-08-28.