1909-11 T206 Kitty Bransfield
1909–11 T206 Kitty Bransfield
Philadelphia Phillies · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Kitty Bransfield is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Kitty Bransfield, a member of the historic Philadelphia Phillies (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 810 examples have been graded, with only 23 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Kitty Bransfield
William Edward "Kitty" Bransfield was a smooth-fielding, hard-hitting first baseman born January 7, 1875, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He came up through Worcester shop and semipro teams as an outfielder and then catcher, and after switching to first base in 1900 he led the Eastern League with a .371 average, earning a big-league job. Bransfield anchored first base for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1901-1904), a dynasty that won three straight National League pennants (1901-1903); he hit .295 with 91 RBIs as a rookie and a career-high .305 in 1902, and played in the very first World Series in 1903, though he struggled at the plate there. Traded to the Philadelphia Phillies before 1905, he rebounded to become, per Alfred Spink's 1910 book, "probably the most popular player in the National League," hitting .304 in 1908. A .270 lifetime hitter, his nickname came from a hard-of-hearing reporter who misheard "Kid" as "Kitty." His departure spawned Pittsburgh's decades-long "Bransfield Curse" at first base. He later umpired and managed in the minors and died in Worcester on May 1, 1947. He is not in the Hall of Fame.
Sources: Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (5)
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 | 477 | 18 | 31 | 55 | 105 | 109 | 83 | 76 |
| SGC | 333 | 5 | 5 | 29 | 70 | 80 | 58 | 86 |
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 | 96 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 68 |
| Sweet Caporal | 57 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 18 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 15 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 14 |
| Hindu | 13 |
| Old Mill | 4 |
| Unknown back | 78 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 9 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 163 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 24 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 14 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 90 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 31 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Kitty Bransfield card?
The Kitty Bransfield 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 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 810 examples of the Kitty Bransfield 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 Kitty Bransfield come with?
The Kitty Bransfield is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Kitty Bransfield 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 2026-08-28.