1909–11 T206 Honus Wagner
Pittsburgh Pirates · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Honus Wagner is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Honus Wagner, a member of the historic Pittsburgh Pirates (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 2 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 55 examples have been graded, with only 1 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Honus Wagner
Honus Wagner is the most famous and valuable subject in the entire T206 set — his card is the hobby's "Holy Grail," pulled from production early (whether he objected to tobacco advertising or over compensation is still debated), so it survives in only a few dozen examples. Born in Chartiers (Carnegie), Pennsylvania, Wagner entered pro ball in 1895 alongside his brother Albert and was developed by future executive Ed Barrow, reaching the majors with the Louisville Colonels on July 19, 1897. When the National League contracted, owner Barney Dreyfuss moved him to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he starred from 1900 to 1917, settling at shortstop. Nicknamed "The Flying Dutchman" for his startling speed and German ("Deutsch") heritage, Wagner won eight NL batting titles, led the league in stolen bases five times (733 career steals), and batted .327 with roughly 3,420 hits. He anchored Pittsburgh's 1909 World Series champions, outhitting Ty Cobb .333 to .231 in the seven-game triumph over Detroit. In 1936 he was elected to the Hall of Fame as one of its five charter members.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (2)
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 | 37 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 22 |
| SGC | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
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 1909 | 19 |
| Sweet Caporal | 6 |
| Unknown back | 12 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1909 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 17 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card?
The Honus Wagner 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 Pittsburgh Pirates player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 2 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 55 examples of the Honus Wagner have been graded, with only 1 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Honus Wagner come with?
The Honus Wagner is confirmed with 2 tobacco-brand backs: Piedmont, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Honus 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.
More Pittsburgh Pirates 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.