1909-11 T206 Hal Chase (Black Cap)
1909–11 T206 Hal Chase
New York Highlanders · American League · Super Print print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Hal Chase (“Black Cap” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Hal Chase, a member of the historic New York Highlanders (American League), and was printed in the Super Print series, known with 14 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 2034 examples have been graded, with only 45 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Hal Chase
Born 1883 in Los Gatos, CA (d. 1947), Hal Chase was a right-handed first baseman who debuted in 1905 and played 15 major-league seasons. He batted .291 with 2,158 hits, 57 home runs, and 363 stolen bases in 1,919 games.
Confirmed backs (14)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1203 | 32 | 93 | 144 | 293 | 207 | 245 | 189 |
| SGC | 831 | 13 | 21 | 85 | 113 | 198 | 152 | 249 |
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 | 159 |
| Piedmont | 150 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 149 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 144 |
| Polar Bear | 90 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 68 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 62 |
| Old Mill | 27 |
| Sovereign | 18 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 12 |
| Carolina Brights | 11 |
| Tolstoi | 9 |
| El Principe de Gales | 8 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 7 |
| Cycle | 6 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 5 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| Cycle 1911 | 2 |
| Hindu | 1 |
| Lenox | 1 |
| Unknown back | 269 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 12 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 2 |
| Cycle 1910 | 12 |
| Cycle 1911 | 3 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 14 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 2 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 3 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 27 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 218 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 106 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 95 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 30 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 14 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 3 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 178 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 96 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 16 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Hal Chase card?
The Hal Chase (Black Cap) 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 New York Highlanders player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 14 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 2034 examples of the Hal Chase have been graded, with only 45 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Hal Chase come with?
The Hal Chase is confirmed with 14 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Hal Chase 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.