1909–11 T206 Germany Schaefer
Detroit Tigers · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Germany Schaefer (“Detroit” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Germany Schaefer, a member of the historic Detroit Tigers (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 690 examples have been graded, with only 17 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Germany Schaefer
William Herman "Germany" Schaefer, born in 1876 on Chicago's South Side to German immigrant parents, signed off the sandlots with Sioux Falls in 1898 and reached the majors with the Chicago Cubs in 1901. A light-hitting but versatile infielder (second, third, and short), he found his home in Detroit (1905-1909), where he was named team captain and helped the Tigers win back-to-back American League pennants in 1907 and 1908, losing both World Series to the Cubs. Traded to Washington in 1909, he enjoyed his best year in 1911, batting .334 in 125 games. Over 15 seasons and 1,150 games he hit .257 with 201 stolen bases. Nicknamed "Germany" for his heritage (he swapped it for "Liberty" in 1917), Schaefer was the game's original clown-prince, famous for "calling" a home run in 1906 and for stealing first base off second to bait a throw, an antic that prompted a rule banning running the bases in reverse. He died of tuberculosis in 1919 at age 42. His pose is one of the set's well-known deadball personalities.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (4)
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 | 410 | 16 | 18 | 44 | 108 | 74 | 87 | 63 |
| SGC | 280 | 1 | 8 | 24 | 43 | 65 | 56 | 83 |
NM 7+ bundles grades 7–10; 1 & Auth bundles grade 1, 1.5 & Authentic. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are subject-level (summed across all backs). Population as of 2026-06.
PSA by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1909 | 129 |
| Piedmont | 92 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 41 |
| Sweet Caporal | 36 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 22 |
| El Principe de Gales | 10 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 9 |
| Unknown back | 71 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 11 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 162 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 12 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 15 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 80 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Germany Schaefer card?
The Germany Schaefer (Detroit) 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 tobacco packs across 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 690 examples of the Germany Schaefer have been graded, with only 17 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Germany Schaefer come with?
The Germany Schaefer is confirmed with 4 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Germany Schaefer 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 Germany Schaefer
More Detroit Tigers cards
- Donnie Bush
- 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 2026-10-05.