1909-11 T206 Fred Merkle (Throwing)
1909–11 T206 Fred Merkle
New York Giants · National League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Fred Merkle (“Throwing” 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 460 Only series, known with 10 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 850 examples have been graded, with only 9 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Fred Merkle
Carl Frederick Rudolf "Fred" Merkle was born December 20, 1888, in Watertown, Wisconsin, and grew up in Toledo, Ohio, where he pitched semipro ball before signing with Tecumseh of the South Michigan League and converting to first base. Purchased by the New York Giants for $2,500, he debuted September 21, 1907, at age 18. A hard-hitting, slick-fielding first baseman and a daring base-runner who slid head-first, Merkle starred through 16 major-league seasons (1907-1926) with the Giants, Brooklyn Robins, Chicago Cubs, and New York Yankees, batting .273 with 61 home runs, 740 RBI, and 272 stolen bases. He was the Giants' regular first baseman on three straight National League pennant winners from 1911 to 1913, though he never won a World Series in six appearances. He is forever tied to "Merkle's Boner" of September 23, 1908, when, failing to touch second base on an apparent game-winning hit, he was forced out, nullifying the run; the Giants lost a replay and the pennant, and the play saddled him with the cruel nickname "Bonehead." Teammates and manager John McGraw defended him as one of the game's smartest players. Merkle died March 2, 1956, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Not a Hall of Famer, he remains one of the T206 set's most historically famous subjects because of the 1908 blunder.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (10)
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 | 498 | 8 | 26 | 58 | 120 | 92 | 111 | 83 |
| SGC | 352 | 1 | 8 | 33 | 53 | 85 | 75 | 97 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 82 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 71 |
| Sweet Caporal | 64 |
| Piedmont | 56 |
| Polar Bear | 34 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 29 |
| Old Mill | 28 |
| Tolstoi | 20 |
| Lenox | 11 |
| Uzit | 10 |
| Cycle 1911 | 6 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 5 |
| Unknown back | 82 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Cycle 1911 | 7 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 8 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 33 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 112 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 39 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 27 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 106 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 15 |
| Uzit 1909-11 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Fred Merkle card?
The Fred Merkle (Throwing) 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 10 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 850 examples of the Fred Merkle have been graded, with only 9 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 10 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Uzit. 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.
Other poses of Fred Merkle
More New York Giants 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.