1909–11 T206 Jim Pastorius
Brooklyn Superbas · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Jim Pastorius is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Jim Pastorius, a member of the historic Brooklyn Superbas (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 799 examples have been graded, with only 20 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Jim Pastorius
James Washington "Sunny Jim" Pastorius was a left-handed pitcher who worked as a laborer in a Pittsburgh mill before turning pro in 1902 with the Albany Senators of the Class-B New York State League, where he pitched through 1905. He reached the majors with the Brooklyn Superbas of the National League and spent his entire big-league career there, from his 1906 debut through 1909. His finest season came in 1907, when he went 16-12 with a 2.35 ERA over 222 innings and led the club in wins. The following year turned brutal: on a poor Brooklyn team he finished 4-20 and endured a franchise-record 15 consecutive losses, though his 2.44 ERA showed how little support he received. On July 28, 1909, he nearly no-hit Philadelphia, surrendering only a ninth-inning triple in a 4-0 win. Over four seasons he compiled a 31-55 record with a solid 3.12 ERA and 10 shutouts. His cheerful nickname "Sunny Jim" traced to the popular Force cereal advertising character of the era. His long consecutive-loss mark stood for decades, drawing notice as late as 1987. He is a common subject in the T206 set and is not in the Hall of Fame.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (5)
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 | 508 | 16 | 26 | 49 | 117 | 111 | 111 | 78 |
| SGC | 291 | 4 | 7 | 27 | 39 | 72 | 57 | 85 |
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 1909 | 109 |
| Piedmont | 108 |
| Sweet Caporal | 75 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 67 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 23 |
| Hindu | 12 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 11 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 10 |
| Old Mill | 4 |
| Unknown back | 89 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 14 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 140 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 20 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 15 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 79 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 22 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Jim Pastorius card?
The Jim Pastorius 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 Brooklyn Superbas player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 799 examples of the Jim Pastorius have been graded, with only 20 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Jim Pastorius come with?
The Jim Pastorius is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Jim Pastorius 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 Brooklyn Superbas 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.