1909-11 T206 Hugh Duffy
1909–11 T206 Hugh Duffy
Chicago White Sox · American League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Hugh Duffy is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Hugh Duffy, a member of the historic Chicago White Sox (American League), and was printed in the 460 Only series, known with 10 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1421 examples have been graded, with only 21 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Hugh Duffy
Born 1866 in Cranston, RI (d. 1954), Hugh Duffy was a right-handed outfielder who debuted in 1888 and played 17 major-league seasons. He batted .324 with 2,282 hits, 106 home runs, and 574 stolen bases in 1,737 games. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945. In 1894 he batted .440, which remains the highest single-season batting average in major league history.
Confirmed backs (10)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 820 | 18 | 53 | 107 | 189 | 139 | 149 | 165 |
| SGC | 601 | 3 | 10 | 71 | 61 | 152 | 110 | 194 |
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 | 282 |
| Sweet Caporal | 93 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 88 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 49 |
| Polar Bear | 36 |
| Tolstoi | 34 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 23 |
| Hindu | 14 |
| El Principe de Gales | 13 |
| Old Mill | 8 |
| Cycle 1911 | 7 |
| Unknown back | 173 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1911 | 24 |
| Cycle 1911 | 7 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 5 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 6 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 6 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 263 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 42 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 56 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 165 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 27 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Hugh Duffy card?
The Hugh Duffy 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 Chicago White Sox player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 10 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1421 examples of the Hugh Duffy have been graded, with only 21 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Hugh Duffy come with?
The Hugh Duffy is confirmed with 10 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Hindu, 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 Hugh Duffy 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.