1909-11 T206 Nap Rucker (Throwing)
1909–11 T206 Nap Rucker
Brooklyn Superbas · National League · 350-460 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Nap Rucker (“Throwing” 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 350-460 series, known with 13 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 950 examples have been graded, with only 21 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Nap Rucker
A former printer's apprentice from Crabapple, Georgia, George Napoleon "Nap" Rucker made his professional debut in 1904 and pitched for Augusta of the South Atlantic (Sally) League from 1904 to 1906, where in 1905 he roomed with a young Ty Cobb, who arrived early to practice hitting against his left-handed offerings. A hard-throwing lefty, Rucker spent his entire major-league career with the Brooklyn Superbas/Dodgers from 1907 to 1916. On September 5, 1908, he no-hit Boston at Washington Park while striking out 14, the first no-hitter by a left-hander in the franchise's history. He set a career high with 201 strikeouts in 1909 (fanning 16 Cardinals on July 24), and in 1910 led the National League with 320 innings pitched, 27 complete games, and six shutouts. He finished 134-134 with a sterling 2.42 ERA on mostly second-division clubs, and in his final season pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts in Game Four of the 1916 World Series against the Red Sox. His nickname simply shortened his middle name, Napoleon. A sore arm from 1914 onward hastened his decline, but Rucker is remembered as one of the Deadball Era's premier left-handers.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (13)
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 | 574 | 18 | 31 | 75 | 153 | 103 | 124 | 70 |
| SGC | 376 | 3 | 6 | 45 | 67 | 77 | 76 | 102 |
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 | 70 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 66 |
| Piedmont | 63 |
| Polar Bear | 62 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 54 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 38 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 34 |
| Old Mill | 32 |
| Tolstoi | 20 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 14 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 13 |
| El Principe de Gales | 10 |
| Cycle 1911 | 6 |
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 2 |
| Lenox | 2 |
| Drum | 2 |
| Unknown back | 86 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 10 |
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 4 |
| Cycle 1911 | 4 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 7 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 1 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 19 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 80 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 48 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 47 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 13 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 76 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 54 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 13 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Nap Rucker card?
The Nap Rucker (Throwing) 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 13 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 950 examples of the Nap Rucker have been graded, with only 21 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 13 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, 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 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.
Other poses of Nap Rucker
More Brooklyn Superbas 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.