1909-11 T206 Lena Blackburne
1909–11 T206 Lena Blackburne
Providence Grays · Eastern League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Lena Blackburne is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Lena Blackburne, a member of the historic Providence Grays (Eastern League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1018 examples have been graded, with only 22 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Lena Blackburne
Russell Aubrey "Lena" Blackburne (1886-1968) was a slick-fielding infielder signed by Connie Mack's Athletics in 1907 and farmed out to the minors. After a strong 1909 season with the Providence Grays of the Eastern League — batting .273 and stealing 32 bases, which earned his T206 card as a Providence player — he reached the majors with the Chicago White Sox on April 14, 1910. Over parts of eight big-league seasons (1910-1929) with the White Sox, Reds, Braves and Phillies, he played mostly shortstop, second and third base but hit only .214 across 550 games; his value was his glove, leading AL second basemen in assists in 1914. He later managed the White Sox in 1928-29 and coached for three decades, discovering future Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey in 1925. His nickname "Lena" came from "Leaner," a jab at his lanky build that stuck in a New England accent. His enduring fame: Lena Blackburne Rubbing Mud, the Pennsauken Creek concoction he created in the late 1930s to de-slick new baseballs, still used across pro baseball today.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (11)
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 | 631 | 19 | 46 | 88 | 176 | 111 | 113 | 78 |
| SGC | 387 | 3 | 10 | 50 | 75 | 101 | 62 | 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 1910 | 297 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 64 |
| Sweet Caporal | 44 |
| Polar Bear | 32 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 26 |
| Old Mill | 15 |
| El Principe de Gales | 11 |
| Carolina Brights | 11 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| Tolstoi | 2 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 2 |
| Unknown back | 117 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 4 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 5 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 10 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 13 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 224 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 20 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 28 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 74 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 3 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Lena Blackburne card?
The Lena Blackburne 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 Providence Grays player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1018 examples of the Lena Blackburne have been graded, with only 22 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Lena Blackburne come with?
The Lena Blackburne is confirmed with 11 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Lena Blackburne 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 Providence Grays 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.