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
George McQuillan was a right-handed pitcher born May 1, 1885, in Brooklyn, New York, who broke into pro ball in 1904 with Paterson of the Hudson River League. Debuting with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1907, he set one of the longest-lived records in major-league history that season, opening his career with 25 scoreless innings before surrendering his first earned run—a mark that stood 101 years until Brad Ziegler broke it in 2008. His 1908 breakout was among the finest by any Deadball Era youngster: he went 23-17 with a sparkling 1.53 ERA across nearly 360 innings, ranking as arguably the National League's second-best pitcher behind only Christy Mathewson. Nicknamed "Big Mac" for his imposing 6-foot, 185-pound frame, McQuillan compiled a 1.69 ERA over his first four seasons, but alcoholism and personal turmoil derailed a career that once looked destined for greatness. He also pitched for Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland, finishing 85-89 with a 2.38 career ERA. He died May 30, 1940, in Columbus, Ohio. He is not a Hall of Famer.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (6)
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 | 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 this T206 card?
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.
Other poses of George McQuillan
More Philadelphia Phillies 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.