1909-11 T206 Heinie Wagner (Bat On Left Shoulder)
1909–11 T206 Heinie Wagner
Boston Red Sox · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Heinie Wagner (“Bat On Left Shoulder” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Heinie Wagner, a member of the historic Boston Red Sox (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 943 examples have been graded, with only 27 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Heinie Wagner
A product of the New York City sandlots, Charles "Heinie" Wagner was discovered playing semipro ball in Manhattan and reached the majors with John McGraw's New York Giants in 1902. After several seasons in the Eastern League, he landed with the Boston Red Sox in 1906 and spent the bulk of his career there as their regular shortstop, playing in Boston through 1918 (with later stints into 1920). A slick, strong-armed defender rather than a big hitter, Wagner batted around .250 with roughly 845 career hits, and teammate Smoky Joe Wood raved that he'd never seen shortstop played better; Ty Cobb conceded Wagner threw him out on the bases more than any other AL infielder. His nickname "Heinie" was a common tag for players of German heritage, his father being German-born. Named Red Sox captain in 1912, Wagner directed a club that won the World Series that year, and he was part of Boston's championship teams in 1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918. He later managed the Red Sox in 1930. He is a recognized member of the storied T206 set but not a Hall of Famer.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (6)
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 | 586 | 22 | 36 | 79 | 127 | 112 | 120 | 90 |
| SGC | 357 | 5 | 7 | 33 | 63 | 86 | 69 | 94 |
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 1909 | 120 |
| Piedmont | 104 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 72 |
| Sweet Caporal | 68 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 32 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 26 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 23 |
| Old Mill | 16 |
| El Principe de Gales | 14 |
| Hindu | 7 |
| Unknown back | 104 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 18 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 7 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 4 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 154 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 28 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 10 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 113 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 22 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Heinie Wagner card?
The Heinie Wagner (Bat On Left Shoulder) 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 Boston Red Sox player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 943 examples of the Heinie Wagner have been graded, with only 27 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Heinie Wagner come with?
The Heinie Wagner is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Heinie Wagner 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 Heinie Wagner
More Boston Red Sox 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.