1909-11 T206 Kid Elberfeld (Portrait - New York)
1909–11 T206 Kid Elberfeld
New York Highlanders · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Kid Elberfeld (“Portrait - New York” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Kid Elberfeld, a member of the historic New York Highlanders (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 803 examples have been graded, with only 16 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Kid Elberfeld
Norman Arthur "Kid" Elberfeld was a fiery deadball-era shortstop who reached the majors in 1898 after breaking in with independent and Texas League clubs in the mid-1890s. Standing barely 5-foot-7, he played sixteen big-league seasons (1898-1914) for the Phillies, Reds, Tigers, New York Highlanders, Washington Senators, and Brooklyn Robins, batting .271 with 1,235 hits and 213 stolen bases. He was Detroit's first team batting leader and first .300 hitter in the club's inaugural 1901 season (.308), and from 1904-1906 posted the best batting and OPS of any American League shortstop except Honus Wagner. A master of the hit-by-pitch, he ranks among the all-time leaders in that category. Sportswriter Sam Crane dubbed him "The Tabasco Kid" after his 1903 arrival in New York, a tribute to his peppery, hot-tempered, spikes-flying style. He also managed the Highlanders in 1908 (27-71). His lasting legacy came as a minor-league mentor who helped develop Casey Stengel, Bill Terry, and Travis Jackson. A recognizable "150-350" series subject in the T206 set, though not one of its scarce cards.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (4)
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 | 507 | 16 | 28 | 33 | 137 | 94 | 110 | 89 |
| SGC | 296 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 49 | 66 | 60 | 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 1909 | 114 |
| Piedmont | 85 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 68 |
| Sweet Caporal | 55 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 22 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 20 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 15 |
| Sovereign | 12 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 10 |
| Hindu | 8 |
| Unknown back | 98 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 7 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 142 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 19 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 16 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 17 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 84 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 2 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 9 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Kid Elberfeld card?
The Kid Elberfeld (Portrait - New York) 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 New York Highlanders player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 803 examples of the Kid Elberfeld have been graded, with only 16 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Kid Elberfeld come with?
The Kid Elberfeld is confirmed with 4 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Kid Elberfeld 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 Kid Elberfeld
More New York Highlanders 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.