1909-11 T206 George McQuillan (With Bat)
1909–11 T206 George McQuillan
Philadelphia Phillies · National League · 350-460 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 George McQuillan (“With Bat” 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 350-460 series, known with 12 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 850 examples have been graded, with only 15 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 (12)
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 | 511 | 14 | 23 | 61 | 143 | 92 | 95 | 83 |
| SGC | 339 | 1 | 7 | 40 | 57 | 87 | 64 | 83 |
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 1910 | 68 |
| Piedmont | 63 |
| Sweet Caporal | 60 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 54 |
| Polar Bear | 44 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 32 |
| Old Mill | 24 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 20 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 12 |
| El Principe de Gales | 12 |
| Tolstoi | 11 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 9 |
| Cycle 1911 | 7 |
| American Beauty | 5 |
| Uzit | 5 |
| Lenox | 3 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 2 |
| Drum | 1 |
| Unknown back | 79 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 12 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 6 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 3 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 11 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 83 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 47 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 31 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 15 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 88 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 23 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 13 |
| Uzit 1909-11 | 7 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 George McQuillan card?
The George McQuillan (With Bat) 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 12 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 850 examples of the George McQuillan have been graded, with only 15 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 12 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, 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 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.