1909-11 T206 Mike Mitchell
1909–11 T206 Mike Mitchell
Cincinnati Reds · National League · 350 Only print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Mike Mitchell is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Mike Mitchell, a member of the historic Cincinnati Reds (National League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 8 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 911 examples have been graded, with only 24 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Mike Mitchell
Michael Francis Mitchell, born in 1879 in Springfield, Ohio, was a hard-throwing right fielder who reached the majors after a long minor-league apprenticeship. He turned pro in 1902 with Schenectady of the New York State League and starred for Portland of the Pacific Coast League in 1905-06 before the Cincinnati Reds bought him. Mitchell debuted on April 11, 1907, going 3-for-4 with a triple, and was later named STATS, Inc.'s retroactive 1907 NL Rookie of the Year. That season he also led National League outfielders with 39 assists, a record that stood until 1930; historian Bill James credited him with the best outfield arm of the Deadball Era's first decade. Mitchell played for the Reds (1907-1912), Cubs and Pirates (1913-14), and Senators (1914), leading the NL in triples in 1909 (17) and 1910 (18), hitting .310 in 1909, and stealing 107 bases from 1909 to 1911. He batted .278 with 1,138 hits over an eight-year career and died in 1961.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (8)
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 | 566 | 21 | 41 | 81 | 143 | 104 | 81 | 95 |
| SGC | 345 | 3 | 5 | 35 | 59 | 94 | 48 | 101 |
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 | 301 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 56 |
| Sweet Caporal | 45 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 15 |
| Cycle 1910 | 12 |
| Tolstoi | 12 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 11 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Drum | 1 |
| Unknown back | 111 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 6 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Cycle 1910 | 9 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 222 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 79 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 12 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Mike Mitchell card?
The Mike Mitchell 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 Cincinnati Reds player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 8 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 911 examples of the Mike Mitchell have been graded, with only 24 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Mike Mitchell come with?
The Mike Mitchell is confirmed with 8 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Mike Mitchell 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 Cincinnati Reds 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.