1909-11 T206 Joe Tinker (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Joe Tinker
Chicago Cubs · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Joe Tinker (“Portrait” 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 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1381 examples have been graded, with only 23 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Joe Tinker
Born 1880 in Muscotah, KS (d. 1948), Joe Tinker was a right-handed shortstop who debuted in 1902 and played 15 major-league seasons. He batted .262 with 1,687 hits, 31 home runs, and 336 stolen bases in 1,804 games. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.
Confirmed backs (6)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 799 | 20 | 34 | 65 | 176 | 141 | 177 | 186 |
| SGC | 582 | 3 | 7 | 35 | 67 | 134 | 92 | 244 |
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 | 179 |
| Piedmont | 139 |
| Sweet Caporal | 98 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 67 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 42 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 40 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 22 |
| El Principe de Gales | 19 |
| Hindu | 12 |
| Old Mill | 8 |
| Unknown back | 173 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 14 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 9 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 285 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 66 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 19 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 139 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 49 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Joe Tinker card?
The Joe Tinker (Portrait) 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 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1381 examples of the Joe Tinker have been graded, with only 23 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 6 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. 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