1909-11 T206 Fred Clarke (Batting)
1909–11 T206 Fred Clarke
Pittsburgh Pirates · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Fred Clarke (“Batting” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Fred Clarke, a member of the historic Pittsburgh Pirates (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1343 examples have been graded, with only 26 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Fred Clarke
Born 1872 in Winterset, IA (d. 1960), Fred Clarke was a left-handed outfielder who debuted in 1894 and played 21 major-league seasons. He batted .312 with 2,672 hits, 67 home runs, and 506 stolen bases in 2,242 games. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945. As player-manager he led the Pittsburgh Pirates to the 1909 World Series championship, defeating Ty Cobb's Detroit Tigers in seven games.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 779 | 22 | 36 | 94 | 146 | 153 | 157 | 171 |
| SGC | 564 | 4 | 3 | 36 | 70 | 126 | 111 | 214 |
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 | 172 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 137 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 85 |
| Sweet Caporal | 81 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 48 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 38 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 18 |
| Sovereign | 16 |
| Hindu | 10 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Old Mill | 7 |
| Unknown back | 158 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 9 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 2 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 242 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 91 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 5 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 22 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 130 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 63 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Fred Clarke card?
The Fred Clarke (Batting) 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 Pittsburgh Pirates player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1343 examples of the Fred Clarke have been graded, with only 26 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Fred Clarke come with?
The Fred Clarke is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Fred Clarke 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.