1909-11 T206 Joe Tinker (Bat On Shoulder)
1909–11 T206 Joe Tinker
Chicago Cubs · National League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Joe Tinker (“Bat On Shoulder” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Joe Tinker, a member of the historic Chicago Cubs (National League), and was printed in the 460 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1274 examples have been graded, with only 20 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Joe Tinker
Joe Tinker signed his first pro contract with the Denver Grizzlies of the Western League in 1899 and, after seasoning in the Pacific Northwest League, reached the majors as the Chicago Cubs' regular shortstop in 1902. He anchored short in Chicago for eleven seasons (1902-1912), forming with second baseman Johnny Evers and first baseman Frank Chance the era's most storied infield. That trio was immortalized in Franklin Pierce Adams' 1910 poem "Baseball's Sad Lexicon," whose refrain "Tinker to Evers to Chance" made the double-play combination legendary. Tinker helped the Cubs to four National League pennants (1906, 1907, 1908, 1910) and back-to-back World Series championships in 1907 and 1908 over Detroit. A fine defensive shortstop and daring baserunner, he once stole home twice in a single game (July 28, 1910). He later served as player-manager in Cincinnati (1913) and led the Federal League's Chicago Whales to the 1915 pennant. Over 1,806 games he batted .262 with 1,690 hits and 336 stolen bases. Tinker, Evers, and Chance were all elected to the Hall of Fame together in 1946. As a Hall of Fame Cub, Tinker is one of the T206 set's marquee subjects.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (11)
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 | 704 | 18 | 40 | 69 | 151 | 134 | 135 | 157 |
| SGC | 570 | 2 | 5 | 48 | 86 | 121 | 112 | 196 |
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 1911 | 229 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 124 |
| Sweet Caporal | 91 |
| Polar Bear | 34 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 29 |
| Tolstoi | 19 |
| Old Mill | 18 |
| El Principe de Gales | 12 |
| Lenox | 9 |
| Cycle 1911 | 5 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 3 |
| Uzit | 1 |
| Unknown back | 130 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1911 | 1 |
| Cycle 1911 | 5 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 14 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 5 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 22 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 251 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 34 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 27 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 190 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 18 |
| Uzit 1909-11 | 2 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Joe Tinker card?
The Joe Tinker (Bat On Shoulder) 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 Chicago Cubs player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1274 examples of the Joe Tinker 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 Joe Tinker come with?
The Joe Tinker is confirmed with 11 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Uzit. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Joe Tinker 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.
Other poses of Joe Tinker
More Chicago Cubs cards
- George Brown (Chicago)
- Mordecai Brown (Chicago On Shirt)
- Mordecai Brown (Cubs On Shirt)
- Mordecai Brown (Portrait)
- Frank Chance (Batting)
- Frank Chance (Portrait - Red)
- Frank Chance (Portrait - Yellow)
- Johnny Evers (Portrait)
- Johnny Evers (Chicago On Shirt - Yellow Sky)
- Johnny Evers (Cubs On Shirt - Blue Sky)
- Solly Hofman
- Del Howard
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.