1909-11 T206 Jack Bastian
1909–11 T206 Jack Bastian
San Antonio Bronchos · Texas League · Southern Leaguer print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Jack Bastian is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Jack Bastian, a member of the historic San Antonio Bronchos (Texas League), and was printed in the Southern Leaguer series, known with 2 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 662 examples have been graded, with only 10 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Jack Bastian
Jack Bastian was a journeyman first baseman and a genuine minor-league obscurity — one of the many low-level players immortalized only by the T206 set's "Southern Leaguer" subset. He never reached the major leagues; his Baseball-Reference record lives entirely in the minor-league register. Bastian surfaced in 1908 in the New York State League, bouncing between three clubs — the Albany Senators, Gloversville-Johnstown Jags, and Elmira Colonels — and hitting a feeble combined .180. He landed his best season in 1909 with the San Antonio Bronchos of the Texas League, batting a respectable .248 — and it was as a Broncho that he appeared on his T206 card. He closed out his career in the Tri-State League with the Reading Pretzels (1910) and the Wilmington Chicks (1911). Over four minor-league seasons he hit just .225 in 1,384 at-bats across 397 games, then left pro ball. Collectors regard why Bastian was included in the historic T206 issue as something of a mystery; his card is a common but well-loved reminder that the set reached far beyond its Cobb-and-Wagner stars.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 381 | 8 | 23 | 49 | 90 | 75 | 74 | 62 |
| SGC | 281 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 31 | 59 | 56 | 106 |
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 1910 | 200 |
| Old Mill | 115 |
| Unknown back | 66 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 109 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 172 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Jack Bastian card?
The Jack Bastian 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 San Antonio Bronchos player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 2 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 662 examples of the Jack Bastian have been graded, with only 10 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Jack Bastian come with?
The Jack Bastian is confirmed with 2 tobacco-brand backs: Old Mill, Piedmont. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Jack Bastian 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 San Antonio Bronchos 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.