1909-11 T206 Jap Barbeau
1909–11 T206 Jap Barbeau
St Louis Cardinals · National League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Jap Barbeau is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Jap Barbeau, a member of the historic St Louis Cardinals (National League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 10 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1011 examples have been graded, with only 30 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Jap Barbeau
William Joseph "Jap" Barbeau was a diminutive dead-ball infielder (listed at just 5'5", 140 pounds) who broke into pro ball in 1905 with the Columbus Senators of the American Association, where a local sportswriter tagged him "Jap" for his swarthy complexion. Cleveland purchased his contract that August, but he hit only .194 in 1906 and was returned to the minors. He resurfaced in the majors in 1909 as Pittsburgh's regular third baseman, using his speed to place among the National League's top ten in stolen bases (33), runs, and walks. On August 19, 1909, the Pirates dealt him to St. Louis with Alan Storke and cash for third baseman Bobby Byrne—a swap that helped Pittsburgh to the 1909 pennant and World Series title while Barbeau finished the year, and his big-league career, with the Cardinals. His last major-league game came May 2, 1910. Over parts of four seasons he batted .225 with no home runs in 199 games, then played minor-league ball through 1919. He is one of the T206 set's common, obscure subjects rather than a star.
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 | 619 | 23 | 50 | 85 | 162 | 100 | 110 | 89 |
| SGC | 392 | 7 | 5 | 34 | 80 | 98 | 64 | 104 |
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 | 282 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 73 |
| Sweet Caporal | 59 |
| Polar Bear | 27 |
| Cycle 1910 | 21 |
| Carolina Brights | 16 |
| El Principe de Gales | 13 |
| Tolstoi | 11 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 8 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Unknown back | 107 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 19 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 7 |
| Cycle 1910 | 15 |
| Cycle 1911 | 1 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 13 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 210 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 33 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 81 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 10 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Jap Barbeau card?
The Jap Barbeau 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 St Louis Cardinals player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 10 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1011 examples of the Jap Barbeau 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 Jap Barbeau come with?
The Jap Barbeau is confirmed with 10 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Jap Barbeau 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 St Louis Cardinals 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.