1909–11 T206 Lee Tannehill
Chicago White Sox · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Lee Tannehill (“L. Tannehill On Front” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Lee Tannehill, a member of the historic Chicago White Sox (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 845 examples have been graded, with only 21 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Lee Tannehill
Lee Ford Tannehill, the younger brother of star pitcher Jesse Tannehill, entered pro ball as a pitcher in the Virginia League before being shifted to the infield in the Western League and reaching the American Association's Louisville Colonels in 1902. He spent his entire ten-year major-league career (1903-1912) with the Chicago White Sox, primarily at third base and shortstop, and was one of the deadball era's finest gloves at the hot corner even as he ranked among the game's weakest hitters, batting just .220 with 3 home runs and 346 RBIs. Nicknamed "Tanny," he anchored the infield of Chicago's 1906 "Hitless Wonders," who upset the crosstown Cubs to win the World Series. In a fitting irony for such a light bat, Tannehill hit the first home run at Comiskey Park, a grand slam on July 31, 1910. On August 4, 1911, he turned two unassisted double plays in a single game against Washington. He died in Live Oak, Florida, in 1938.
Sources: Wikipedia · 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 | 418 | 15 | 25 | 56 | 88 | 84 | 100 | 50 |
| SGC | 427 | 6 | 1 | 40 | 77 | 116 | 77 | 110 |
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 | 119 |
| Sweet Caporal | 58 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 57 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 31 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 25 |
| Old Mill | 11 |
| El Principe de Gales | 11 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 10 |
| Unknown back | 96 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 15 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 10 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 133 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 150 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 19 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 74 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 26 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Lee Tannehill card?
The Lee Tannehill (L. Tannehill On Front) 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 Chicago White Sox player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 845 examples of the Lee Tannehill have been graded, with only 21 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Lee Tannehill come with?
The Lee Tannehill is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Lee Tannehill 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 Lee Tannehill
More Chicago White Sox 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.