1909-11 T206 Kaiser Wilhelm (Hands At Chest)
1909–11 T206 Kaiser Wilhelm
Brooklyn Superbas · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Kaiser Wilhelm (“Hands At Chest” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Kaiser Wilhelm, a member of the historic Brooklyn Superbas (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 916 examples have been graded, with only 19 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Kaiser Wilhelm
Irvin Key Wilhelm (1877-1936) was a right-handed spitball pitcher who broke into pro ball in 1895 with the Mansfield Kids of the Interstate League and reached the majors with the pennant-winning 1903 Pittsburgh Pirates, going 5-3 in the year of the first World Series. He later pitched for the Boston Beaneaters, the Brooklyn Superbas (1908-1910, the team pictured on this T206 card), the Federal League's Baltimore Terrapins, and briefly the 1921 Phillies, finishing a nine-season big-league career at 56-105 with a 3.44 ERA. His numbers were victimized by dreadful support: in 1908 he pitched brilliantly for Brooklyn, a 1.87 ERA over 332 innings with 33 complete games, yet went just 16-22, and in 1905 he absorbed one of history's worst records at 3-23. He hated the nickname "Kaiser," which mocking Polo Grounds fans hung on him in April 1905 after a poor start against the Giants, likening him to Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II. In the minors he was far better, once reeling off 72 consecutive scoreless innings for Rochester. He later managed the Phillies (1921-1922) and coached and developed young pitchers around Rochester until his death.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (6)
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 | 530 | 14 | 38 | 72 | 112 | 102 | 119 | 73 |
| SGC | 386 | 5 | 14 | 31 | 57 | 88 | 60 | 131 |
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 | 114 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 113 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 79 |
| Sweet Caporal | 58 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 23 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 20 |
| El Principe de Gales | 18 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Hindu | 7 |
| Old Mill | 5 |
| Unknown back | 84 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 8 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 5 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 7 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 192 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 28 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 100 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 37 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Kaiser Wilhelm card?
The Kaiser Wilhelm (Hands At Chest) 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 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 916 examples of the Kaiser Wilhelm have been graded, with only 19 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Kaiser Wilhelm come with?
The Kaiser Wilhelm 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 Kaiser Wilhelm 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 Kaiser Wilhelm
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.