1909-11 T206 Lefty Leifield (Batting)
1909–11 T206 Lefty Leifield
Pittsburgh Pirates · National League · 350-460 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Lefty Leifield (“Batting” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Lefty Leifield, a member of the historic Pittsburgh Pirates (National League), and was printed in the 350-460 series, known with 12 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 866 examples have been graded, with only 14 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Lefty Leifield
Born 1883 in Trenton, IL (d. 1970), Lefty Leifield was a left-handed pitcher who debuted in 1905 and played 12 major-league seasons. He went 124-97 with a 2.47 ERA and 616 strikeouts across 296 appearances.
Confirmed backs (12)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 523 | 10 | 27 | 67 | 124 | 99 | 106 | 90 |
| SGC | 343 | 4 | 5 | 30 | 75 | 80 | 49 | 100 |
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 | 69 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 65 |
| Sweet Caporal | 57 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 53 |
| Polar Bear | 51 |
| Old Mill | 31 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 26 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 19 |
| Tolstoi | 18 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 12 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 10 |
| El Principe de Gales | 10 |
| American Beauty | 9 |
| Cycle 1911 | 5 |
| Uzit | 4 |
| Drum | 3 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 2 |
| Lenox | 2 |
| Unknown back | 77 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 19 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 3 |
| Cycle 1911 | 6 |
| Drum 1910 | 1 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 9 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 1 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 19 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 63 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 39 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 49 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 17 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 2 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 82 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 20 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 12 |
| Uzit 1909-11 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Lefty Leifield card?
The Lefty Leifield (Batting) 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 Pittsburgh Pirates player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 12 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 866 examples of the Lefty Leifield have been graded, with only 14 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Lefty Leifield come with?
The Lefty Leifield is confirmed with 12 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Uzit. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Lefty Leifield 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.