1909-11 T206 Fred Mitchell
1909–11 T206 Fred Mitchell
Toronto Maple Leafs · Eastern League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Fred Mitchell is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Fred Mitchell, a member of the historic Toronto Maple Leafs (Eastern League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 8 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 692 examples have been graded, with only 10 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Fred Mitchell
Born Frederick Francis Yapp in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1878, Fred Mitchell adopted his great-grandmother's surname to escape ridicule over "Yapp." Signed off the New England semipro circuit by Hall of Famer Hughie Duffy, he debuted for the inaugural 1901 Boston Americans and pitched for Philadelphia (both leagues), Brooklyn, the 1910 New York Highlanders, and the 1913 Braves. A journeyman right-hander turned catcher, he went 31-49 with a 4.10 ERA and hit only .210. His T206 card captures his Eastern League years (1906-1909) with the Ed Barrow-managed Toronto Maple Leafs, where he threw a 1908 no-hitter against Montreal before converting to catcher. Mitchell's real fame came as a manager: he piloted the Chicago Cubs from 1917 to 1920, winning the 1918 National League pennant behind Hippo Vaughn and losing the World Series to the Red Sox, then managed the Braves (1921-1923) and coached Harvard for years. He died in 1970 at age 92. Not a Hall of Famer, Mitchell is a modestly scarce 350-series subject.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (8)
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 | 434 | 7 | 24 | 51 | 109 | 84 | 91 | 68 |
| SGC | 258 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 56 | 68 | 34 | 66 |
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 | 240 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 61 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 41 |
| Cycle 1910 | 12 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 6 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 4 |
| Drum | 2 |
| Unknown back | 68 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 5 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 4 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| Drum 1910 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 165 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 32 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 46 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Fred Mitchell card?
The Fred Mitchell 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 Toronto Maple Leafs player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 8 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 692 examples of the Fred Mitchell have been graded, with only 10 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Fred Mitchell come with?
The Fred Mitchell is confirmed with 8 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Fred Mitchell 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 Toronto Maple Leafs 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.