1909–11 T206 George Schirm
Buffalo Bisons · Eastern League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 George Schirm is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts George Schirm, a member of the historic Buffalo Bisons (Eastern League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 7 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 759 examples have been graded, with only 6 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About George Schirm
George W. Schirm was a right-handed-hitting centerfielder and a career minor leaguer who never reached the major leagues. Born November 22, 1884, he broke into professional ball in 1906 with the Columbia Gamecocks of the Class C South Atlantic League, batting .265 over 94 games. In 1907 he moved north to the Buffalo Bisons of the Class A Eastern League, where he became a fixture in the outfield for six seasons. His steadiest work came in 1908, when he played 140 games and hit .267 with 134 hits, and again in 1911 (.271). When Buffalo joined the higher-classification International League in 1912, Schirm enjoyed his best season, batting .313 in 104 games. He closed out his career in 1913 with the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League. Over eight documented professional seasons he appeared in more than 800 games with a career average around .260. In the T206 set he is one of the many Eastern League/minor-league subjects, pictured with Buffalo; his card is noted for a scarce "CCHIRM" caption print error. He died July 15, 1968, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 478 | 6 | 27 | 59 | 108 | 90 | 111 | 77 |
| SGC | 281 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 50 | 73 | 61 | 80 |
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 | 259 |
| Polar Bear | 52 |
| Sweet Caporal | 36 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 31 |
| Cycle 1910 | 14 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 6 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Unknown back | 78 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 5 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Cycle 1910 | 9 |
| Drum 1910 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 182 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 38 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 44 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 George Schirm card?
The George Schirm 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 Buffalo Bisons player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 7 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 759 examples of the George Schirm have been graded, with only 6 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 George Schirm come with?
The George Schirm 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 Schirm 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 Buffalo Bisons 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.