1909-11 T206 Fred Merkle (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Fred Merkle
New York Giants · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Fred Merkle (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Fred Merkle, a member of the historic New York Giants (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 873 examples have been graded, with only 30 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Fred Merkle
Born 1888 in Watertown, WI (d. 1956), Fred Merkle was a right-handed first baseman who debuted in 1907 and played 16 major-league seasons. He batted .273 with 1,580 hits, 61 home runs, and 272 stolen bases in 1,638 games.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 509 | 25 | 29 | 50 | 98 | 103 | 107 | 97 |
| SGC | 364 | 5 | 5 | 39 | 52 | 76 | 75 | 112 |
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 | 98 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 95 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 57 |
| Sweet Caporal | 52 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 37 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 34 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 14 |
| Sovereign | 14 |
| Hindu | 12 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Unknown back | 87 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 11 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 159 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 59 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 6 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 15 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 65 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 47 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Fred Merkle card?
The Fred Merkle (Portrait) 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 New York Giants player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 873 examples of the Fred Merkle 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 Fred Merkle come with?
The Fred Merkle 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 Merkle 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.