1909-11 T206 Jake Beckley
1909–11 T206 Jake Beckley
Kansas City Blues · American Association · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Jake Beckley is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Jake Beckley, a member of the historic Kansas City Blues (American Association), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 8 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1386 examples have been graded, with only 30 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Jake Beckley
A native of Hannibal, Missouri, Jake Beckley broke into pro ball in 1886 with Leavenworth of the Western League and was sold to Pittsburgh in 1888, launching a 20-year major-league career at first base. A left-handed slugger, he starred for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys/Pirates (including the 1890 Players League Burghers), New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and St. Louis Cardinals from 1888 to 1907. Beckley hit .308 lifetime with 2,938 hits and 1,581 RBI, batting .300 or better in 13 of his 20 seasons, and retired as baseball's all-time leader in triples; his 244 three-baggers still rank fourth in history. Nicknamed "Eagle Eye" for his keen batting skill, he held the career record for games at first base until Eddie Murray passed him in 1994 and still leads all first basemen in putouts. The T206 card catches him past his MLB days with the Kansas City club of the American Association (1907-1910). He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1971.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (8)
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 | 798 | 29 | 58 | 102 | 193 | 134 | 165 | 117 |
| SGC | 588 | 1 | 13 | 47 | 89 | 146 | 100 | 192 |
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 | 431 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 50 |
| Polar Bear | 44 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 36 |
| Sweet Caporal | 34 |
| Tolstoi | 12 |
| Cycle 1910 | 10 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 10 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Unknown back | 169 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 9 |
| Cycle 1910 | 7 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 383 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 55 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 42 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 81 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 11 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Jake Beckley card?
The Jake Beckley 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 Kansas City Blues player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 8 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1386 examples of the Jake Beckley have been graded, with only 30 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Jake Beckley come with?
The Jake Beckley is confirmed with 8 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Jake Beckley 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 Kansas City Blues 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 2026-08-28.