1909-11 T206 Joe Birmingham
1909–11 T206 Joe Birmingham
Cleveland Naps · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Joe Birmingham is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Joe Birmingham, a member of the historic Cleveland Naps (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 977 examples have been graded, with only 11 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Joe Birmingham
Born 1884 in Elmira, NY (d. 1946), Joe Birmingham was a right-handed outfielder who debuted in 1906 and played 9 major-league seasons. He batted .253 with 667 hits, 7 home runs, and 108 stolen bases in 771 games.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 570 | 10 | 33 | 63 | 119 | 116 | 122 | 107 |
| SGC | 407 | 1 | 3 | 44 | 78 | 76 | 79 | 126 |
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 | 112 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 104 |
| Sweet Caporal | 71 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 70 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 37 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 36 |
| Sovereign | 16 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 15 |
| Hindu | 13 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 6 |
| Old Mill | 4 |
| Unknown back | 86 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 8 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 2 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 158 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 67 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 8 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 24 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 91 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 47 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Joe Birmingham card?
The Joe Birmingham 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 Cleveland Naps player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 977 examples of the Joe Birmingham have been graded, with only 11 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Joe Birmingham come with?
The Joe Birmingham 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 Joe Birmingham 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.