1909–11 T206 George Mullen
Detroit Tigers · American League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 George Mullen is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts George Mullen, a member of the historic Detroit Tigers (American League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 7 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 768 examples have been graded, with only 12 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About George Mullen
George Mullin signed his first professional contract with Fort Wayne of the Western Association in 1901, then jumped to the Detroit Tigers in 1902, where the right-hander became the staff workhorse for more than a decade. He starred in Detroit through 1912, later pitching for Washington (1913), the Federal League's Indianapolis Hoosiers (1914) and Newark Pepper (1915), and finished 228-196 with a 2.82 ERA over 14 seasons. Mullin posted five 20-win seasons and led the American League in 1909 with 29 wins and a .784 winning percentage, anchoring Detroit's staff during three straight pennants (1907-1909); the Tigers lost each World Series, though his 2.25 ERA over 32 innings in the 1909 Series set a record for a seven-game Series. On July 4, 1912 - his 32nd birthday - he threw the first no-hitter in Tigers history, a 7-0 win over the St. Louis Browns in which he also collected three hits. Nicknamed "Wabash George" for the Indiana town where he broke in as a semipro (and "Big George" for his frame), he was also a genuine hitter, batting .262 for his career. He is not in the Hall of Fame. Note: the T206 card spells his name "Mullen," a period variant; sources and the card's Baseball-Reference anchor confirm the player is George Mullin.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (7)
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 | 456 | 12 | 23 | 49 | 109 | 83 | 112 | 68 |
| SGC | 312 | 0 | 5 | 40 | 55 | 79 | 54 | 79 |
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 | 246 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 43 |
| Polar Bear | 39 |
| Sweet Caporal | 31 |
| Cycle 1910 | 10 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 7 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 4 |
| Drum | 2 |
| Unknown back | 74 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 1 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| Drum 1910 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 207 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 42 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 51 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 George Mullen card?
The George Mullen 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 Detroit Tigers player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 7 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 768 examples of the George Mullen have been graded, with only 12 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 George Mullen come with?
The George Mullen is confirmed with 7 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 George Mullen 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 Detroit Tigers cards
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- Ty Cobb (Portrait - Green)
- Ty Cobb (Portrait - Red)
- Ty Cobb (Bat Off Shoulder)
- Ty Cobb (Bat On Shoulder)
- Sam Crawford (Throwing)
- Sam Crawford (With Bat)
- Wild Bill Donovan (Portrait)
- Wild Bill Donovan (Throwing)
- Hughie Jennings (One Hand Showing)
- Hughie Jennings (Two Hands Showing)
- Hughie Jennings (Portrait)
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.