1909-11 T206 Nap Rucker (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Nap Rucker
Brooklyn Superbas · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Nap Rucker (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Nap Rucker, a member of the historic Brooklyn Superbas (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 821 examples have been graded, with only 15 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Nap Rucker
Born 1884 in Crabapple, GA (d. 1970), Nap Rucker was a left-handed pitcher who debuted in 1907 and played 10 major-league seasons. He went 134-134 with a 2.42 ERA and 1,217 strikeouts across 336 appearances.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 500 | 13 | 21 | 47 | 116 | 103 | 116 | 84 |
| SGC | 321 | 2 | 4 | 45 | 63 | 67 | 58 | 82 |
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 1909 | 117 |
| Piedmont | 101 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 68 |
| Sweet Caporal | 59 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 24 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 20 |
| El Principe de Gales | 17 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 16 |
| Old Mill | 1 |
| Unknown back | 77 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 9 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 168 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 34 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 14 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 63 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 33 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Nap Rucker card?
The Nap Rucker (Portrait) 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 Brooklyn Superbas player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 821 examples of the Nap Rucker have been graded, with only 15 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Nap Rucker come with?
The Nap Rucker is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Nap Rucker 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.