1909-11 T206 John Hummel
1909–11 T206 John Hummel
Brooklyn Superbas · National League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 John Hummel is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts John Hummel, a member of the historic Brooklyn Superbas (National League), and was printed in the 460 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 964 examples have been graded, with only 30 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About John Hummel
John Edwin Hummel starred at second base for Bloomsburg State Normal School in Pennsylvania before signing with Wilmington of the Tri-State League in 1903. He debuted with the Brooklyn Superbas on September 12, 1905, and stayed in Brooklyn through 1914 (later Robins), longer than any teammate, before a final season with the 1918 New York Yankees. A genuine "prince of utility players," Hummel appeared at second base, in the outfield, at first base and at shortstop, batting .254 with 991 hits, 29 home runs and roughly 118 stolen bases over 12 seasons. His peak years were 1908-1912; in 1910 he set career highs (5 homers, 13 triples, 21 steals) but also led the NL in strikeouts (81) as a free-swinging right-handed hitter, and he paced NL second basemen in fielding percentage in 1910 and 1911. Nicknamed "Silent John" for his quiet, non-confrontational demeanor, he won lasting fan favor in 1914 batting .355 filling in for injured star Jake Daubert. He was not a Hall of Famer and is a common, affordable subject in the T206 set.
Sources: 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 | 603 | 23 | 40 | 96 | 133 | 108 | 109 | 94 |
| SGC | 361 | 7 | 6 | 46 | 65 | 79 | 63 | 95 |
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 | 189 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 101 |
| Sweet Caporal | 54 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 51 |
| Polar Bear | 30 |
| Tolstoi | 28 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 21 |
| Hindu | 19 |
| El Principe de Gales | 8 |
| Old Mill | 3 |
| Cycle 1911 | 2 |
| Uzit | 1 |
| Unknown back | 96 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1911 | 19 |
| Cycle 1911 | 4 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 6 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 9 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 5 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 148 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 17 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 29 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 102 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 22 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 John Hummel card?
The John Hummel 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 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 964 examples of the John Hummel 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 John Hummel come with?
The John Hummel is confirmed with 11 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Hindu, 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 John Hummel 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 2026-07-01.