1909–11 T206 Mordecai Brown
Chicago Cubs · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Mordecai Brown (“Cubs 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 150-350 series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1154 examples have been graded, with only 20 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Mordecai Brown
Mordecai Peter Centennial Brown earned his enduring nickname, "Three Finger," from a childhood farm accident: a feed cutter mangled his right hand, costing most of his index finger, and a later fall broke and bent the others. The mangled grip gave his curveball wicked movement. A right-handed pitcher, Brown broke in through Indiana mining-town and minor-league ball, reaching the majors with the 1903 St. Louis Cardinals before joining the Chicago Cubs (1904-1912), where he became the ace of the era's dominant club. He won 20-plus games in six straight seasons (1906-1911), posted a microscopic 1.04 ERA in 1906, and helped Chicago to back-to-back World Series titles in 1907 and 1908, including his clutch victory over Christy Mathewson's Giants in the 1908 pennant playoff. He also pitched for Cincinnati, the Federal League, and a final Cubs stint in 1916. Brown finished 239-130 with a 2.06 career ERA and 48 shutouts, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1949. He is among the T206 set's most coveted Hall-of-Fame subjects.
Sources: Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (4)
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 | 652 | 20 | 24 | 67 | 116 | 138 | 120 | 167 |
| SGC | 502 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 54 | 95 | 103 | 230 |
NM 7+ bundles grades 7–10; 1 & Auth bundles grade 1, 1.5 & Authentic. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are subject-level (summed across all backs). Population as of 2026-06.
PSA by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1909 | 179 |
| Piedmont | 120 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 94 |
| Sweet Caporal | 70 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 15 |
| Hindu | 7 |
| Old Mill | 2 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 2 |
| Unknown back | 163 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 12 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 279 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 20 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 2 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 20 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 160 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 6 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Mordecai Brown card?
The Mordecai Brown (Cubs 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 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1154 examples of the Mordecai Brown have been graded, with only 20 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 4 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. 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.
Other poses of Mordecai Brown
More Chicago Cubs 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 2026-10-05.