1909-11 T206 George McQuillan (Ball In Hand)
1909–11 T206 George McQuillan
Philadelphia Phillies · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 George McQuillan (“Ball In Hand” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts George McQuillan, a member of the historic Philadelphia Phillies (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 876 examples have been graded, with only 21 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About George McQuillan
Born 1885 in Brooklyn, NY (d. 1940), George McQuillan was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1907 and played 10 major-league seasons. He went 85-89 with a 2.38 ERA and 590 strikeouts across 273 appearances.
Confirmed backs (6)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 546 | 21 | 28 | 77 | 121 | 86 | 106 | 107 |
| SGC | 330 | 0 | 6 | 32 | 60 | 73 | 72 | 87 |
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 | 117 |
| Piedmont | 96 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 69 |
| Sweet Caporal | 62 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 29 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 24 |
| El Principe de Gales | 15 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 14 |
| Hindu | 11 |
| Old Mill | 7 |
| Unknown back | 102 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 2 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 6 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 5 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 157 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 37 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 7 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 89 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 26 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 George McQuillan card?
The George McQuillan (Ball In Hand) 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 Philadelphia Phillies player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 876 examples of the George McQuillan 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 George McQuillan come with?
The George McQuillan is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 George McQuillan 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.