1909-11 T206 Hooks Wiltse (Portrait - With Cap)
1909–11 T206 Hooks Wiltse
New York Giants · National League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Hooks Wiltse (“Portrait - With 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 460 Only series, known with 10 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 789 examples have been graded, with only 8 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 (10)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 481 | 7 | 19 | 67 | 113 | 95 | 106 | 74 |
| SGC | 308 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 59 | 63 | 62 | 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 1911 | 85 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 74 |
| Piedmont | 53 |
| Sweet Caporal | 52 |
| Old Mill | 46 |
| Polar Bear | 38 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 19 |
| Tolstoi | 17 |
| Lenox | 7 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 5 |
| Cycle 1911 | 5 |
| Uzit | 4 |
| Unknown back | 76 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1911 | 1 |
| Cycle 1911 | 6 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 10 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 25 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 118 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 21 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 26 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 75 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 18 |
| Uzit 1909-11 | 8 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Hooks Wiltse card?
The Hooks Wiltse (Portrait - With 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 10 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 789 examples of the Hooks Wiltse have been graded, with only 8 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 10 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Uzit. 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.