1909-11 T206 Heinie Smith
1909–11 T206 Heinie Smith
Buffalo Bisons · Eastern League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Heinie Smith is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Heinie Smith, a member of the historic Buffalo Bisons (Eastern League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 12 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 977 examples have been graded, with only 16 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Heinie Smith
George Henry "Heinie" Smith was a second baseman born October 24, 1871, in Pittsburgh. He debuted with the Louisville Colonels on September 1, 1897, then played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1899), the New York Giants (1901-1902), and the Detroit Tigers (1903), finishing with a career .238 average, 268 hits, 3 home runs, 91 RBIs, and 54 stolen bases in 311 games. His best year came in 1902 with the Giants, when he hit .252 with career highs in hits (129), doubles, runs, RBIs, and 32 stolen bases; that same season he served as the Giants' interim manager, going 5-27 before John McGraw took over the club. His nickname "Heinie" was a common tag for German-American ballplayers of the era. After his big-league days he spent roughly a decade in the Eastern League as a player and manager, notably with the Buffalo Bisons - the team pictured on this T206 card - and later coached University at Buffalo baseball. He died June 25, 1939, in Buffalo. A common minor-league subject in the set, Smith is not among the T206 rarities.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Confirmed backs (12)
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 | 608 | 15 | 36 | 94 | 153 | 106 | 117 | 87 |
| SGC | 369 | 1 | 11 | 44 | 80 | 78 | 58 | 97 |
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 | 253 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 70 |
| Sweet Caporal | 50 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 44 |
| Polar Bear | 34 |
| Old Mill | 23 |
| El Principe de Gales | 12 |
| Cycle 1910 | 11 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 8 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 4 |
| Drum | 1 |
| Carolina Brights | 1 |
| Unknown back | 97 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 3 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 4 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 9 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 11 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 192 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 27 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 24 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 94 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Heinie Smith card?
The Heinie Smith 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 12 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 977 examples of the Heinie Smith have been graded, with only 16 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Heinie Smith come with?
The Heinie Smith is confirmed with 12 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, 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 Heinie Smith 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 2026-07-01.