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
Hugh Duffy broke into professional ball off the Rhode Island sandlots in the mid-1880s and reached the majors with Cap Anson's Chicago White Stockings in 1888. A converted catcher who settled into the outfield, he starred through the 1890s for the Chicago Pirates (Players' League, 1890), Boston Reds (1891), and above all the Boston Beaneaters (1892-1900), winning National League pennants in 1892, 1893, and 1897. His 1894 season is one of the greatest ever: Duffy won the Triple Crown and batted .440, still the highest single-season average in major-league history, also leading the league in hits, doubles, home runs, and total bases. Over 17 seasons he compiled a .326 career average with more than 1,500 runs and 574 stolen bases. With teammate Tommy McCarthy he formed Boston's celebrated "Heavenly Twins" outfield. He later managed the Chicago White Sox in 1910-1911 — the role that placed him in the T206 set — and spent decades as a Boston Red Sox coach and scout, tutoring young Ted Williams. Duffy was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1945.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (10)
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 | 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 this T206 card?
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.
More Chicago White 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.