1909-11 T206 John Titus
1909–11 T206 John Titus
Philadelphia Phillies · National League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 John Titus is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts John Titus, a member of the historic Philadelphia Phillies (National League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1061 examples have been graded, with only 12 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About John Titus
John Franklin Titus was a Deadball-era outfielder who reached the majors the hard way. After semipro ball around Pottsville, Pennsylvania, he hit .407 for Concord of the Class B New England League in 1903, prompting the Philadelphia Phillies to buy his contract for $1,700 that June, when he was already 27. He anchored a strong Phillies outfield alongside Sherry Magee and Roy Thomas from 1903 to 1912, then finished with the Boston Braves in 1912-1913. A patient left-handed hitter whom Grover Cleveland Alexander credited with "one of the best batting eyes I ever saw," Titus batted a career .282 with 1,401 hits, 253 doubles, 72 triples and 140 stolen bases over 11 seasons. His best year came in 1905, when he ranked among the NL's top five in slugging (.436), total bases, doubles, RBIs and walks. Nicknamed "Silent John" for his quiet, unruffled temperament, he was famous for chewing a toothpick at the plate and wearing a handlebar mustache long after they'd gone out of style, and is believed never to have been ejected from a game. He never reached a World Series and is not in the Hall of Fame, but he is a well-documented regular of 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 | 570 | 9 | 16 | 45 | 81 | 106 | 143 | 170 |
| SGC | 491 | 3 | 8 | 40 | 55 | 93 | 109 | 183 |
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 1910 | 172 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 113 |
| Sweet Caporal | 60 |
| Polar Bear | 45 |
| Old Mill | 29 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 24 |
| El Principe de Gales | 12 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 8 |
| Cycle 1910 | 7 |
| Carolina Brights | 6 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 3 |
| Drum | 2 |
| Unknown back | 89 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 5 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 1 |
| Cycle 1910 | 7 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 18 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 24 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 236 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 50 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 18 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 129 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 John Titus card?
The John Titus 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 Philadelphia Phillies player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1061 examples of the John Titus have been graded, with only 12 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 John Titus come with?
The John Titus is confirmed with 11 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 John Titus 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 Philadelphia Phillies 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.