1909–11 T206 Gordon Hickman
Mobile Sea Gulls · Southern Association · Southern Leaguer print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Gordon Hickman is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Gordon Hickman, a member of the historic Mobile Sea Gulls (Southern Association), and was printed in the Southern Leaguer series, known with 3 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 520 examples have been graded, with only 15 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Gordon Hickman
Gordon Hickman was a right-handed pitcher and one of the T206 set's obscure Southern League subjects, pictured with the Mobile Sea Gulls of the Southern Association. Born August 9, 1884, in Birmingham, Alabama (he died October 22, 1966), Hickman broke into professional ball on the Gulf Coast sandlots, pitching for Brewton in the short-lived Interstate League before manager George Leidy signed him for 1904 with Monroe, Louisiana, of the Cotton States League. He spent his entire career in the minors, never reaching the major leagues; his last season as a player was 1910, after which he managed Class D clubs in his native Alabama. Hickman's calling card was his tiny stature: a September 1909 San Francisco Examiner item hailed him as "the real and only midget pitcher in professional baseball," calling the little right-hander the "star twirler" of the Sea Gulls. His card belongs to T206's scarce "Southern Leaguer" group, printed only in 1909-1910 and far tougher to find than the set's Northern big-leaguers, making Hickman a genuinely elusive name for set collectors despite his modest playing record.
Sources: Baseball-Reference
Confirmed backs (3)
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 | 322 | 12 | 24 | 45 | 78 | 53 | 55 | 55 |
| SGC | 198 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 36 | 39 | 28 | 68 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Old Mill | 142 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 106 |
| Hindu | 16 |
| Unknown back | 58 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 11 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 113 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 74 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Gordon Hickman card?
The Gordon Hickman 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 Mobile Sea Gulls player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 3 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 520 examples of the Gordon Hickman 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 Gordon Hickman come with?
The Gordon Hickman is confirmed with 3 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Gordon Hickman 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 Mobile Sea Gulls 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.