1909-11 T206 Mordecai Brown (Chicago On Shirt)
1909–11 T206 Mordecai Brown
Chicago Cubs · National League · 350-460 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Mordecai Brown (“Chicago On Shirt” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Mordecai Brown, a member of the historic Chicago Cubs (National League), and was printed in the 350-460 series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1885 examples have been graded, with only 52 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Mordecai Brown
Born 1876 in Nyesville, IN (d. 1948), Mordecai Brown was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1903 and played 14 major-league seasons. He went 239-130 with a 2.06 ERA and 1,375 strikeouts across 481 appearances. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1949. He lost parts of two fingers on his right hand in a childhood farm accident, and the resulting grip gave his curveball such sharp break that he was nicknamed 'Three Finger' Brown.
Confirmed backs (11)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1088 | 39 | 69 | 95 | 221 | 193 | 239 | 232 |
| SGC | 797 | 13 | 12 | 86 | 98 | 163 | 151 | 274 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 159 |
| Sweet Caporal | 138 |
| Polar Bear | 127 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 123 |
| Piedmont | 102 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 56 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 51 |
| Old Mill | 46 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 28 |
| Tolstoi | 27 |
| El Principe de Gales | 15 |
| Cycle 1911 | 9 |
| Hindu | 4 |
| Lenox | 2 |
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 1 |
| Unknown back | 200 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 2 |
| Cycle 1911 | 6 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 15 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 1 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 2 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 39 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 178 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 61 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 122 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 30 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 4 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 237 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 73 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 27 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Mordecai Brown card?
The Mordecai Brown (Chicago On Shirt) 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 Cubs player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1885 examples of the Mordecai Brown have been graded, with only 52 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Mordecai Brown come with?
The Mordecai Brown is confirmed with 11 tobacco-brand backs: Broad Leaf, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Lenox, 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 Mordecai Brown 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.