1909-11 T206 Hooks Wiltse (Portrait - No Cap)
1909–11 T206 Hooks Wiltse
New York Giants · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Hooks Wiltse (“Portrait - No Cap” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Hooks Wiltse, a member of the historic New York Giants (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 885 examples have been graded, with only 20 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Hooks Wiltse
Born 1879 in Hamilton, NY (d. 1959), Hooks Wiltse was a left-handed pitcher who debuted in 1904 and played 12 major-league seasons. He went 139-90 with a 2.47 ERA and 965 strikeouts across 357 appearances.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 544 | 16 | 20 | 63 | 132 | 101 | 113 | 99 |
| SGC | 341 | 4 | 4 | 40 | 41 | 82 | 50 | 120 |
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 | 111 |
| Piedmont | 108 |
| Sweet Caporal | 65 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 50 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 34 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 32 |
| Sovereign | 17 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 13 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Hindu | 9 |
| Old Mill | 7 |
| Unknown back | 89 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 12 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 2 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 151 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 46 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 7 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 21 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 62 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 40 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Hooks Wiltse card?
The Hooks Wiltse (Portrait - No 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 Giants player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 885 examples of the Hooks Wiltse have been graded, with only 20 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Hooks Wiltse come with?
The Hooks Wiltse is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Hooks Wiltse 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.