1909-11 T206 Lou Ritter
1909–11 T206 Lou Ritter
Kansas City Blues · American Association · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Lou Ritter is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Lou Ritter, a member of the historic Kansas City Blues (American Association), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 8 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 918 examples have been graded, with only 11 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Lou Ritter
Born 1875 in Liverpool, Pennsylvania (d. 1952), Lew "Old Dog" Ritter was a right-handed catcher who played seven major-league seasons for the Brooklyn Superbas (1902-1908), batting .219 over 462 games, and later caught for Kansas City of the American Association.
Confirmed backs (8)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 581 | 10 | 45 | 74 | 153 | 108 | 108 | 83 |
| SGC | 337 | 1 | 9 | 37 | 63 | 77 | 54 | 96 |
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 | 328 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 56 |
| Sweet Caporal | 39 |
| Polar Bear | 31 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 11 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| Tolstoi | 4 |
| Drum | 2 |
| Unknown back | 102 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 12 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| Drum 1910 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 223 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 18 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 70 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 4 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Lou Ritter card?
The Lou Ritter 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 Kansas City Blues player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 8 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 918 examples of the Lou Ritter have been graded, with only 11 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Lou Ritter come with?
The Lou Ritter is confirmed with 8 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Lou Ritter 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.