1909-11 T206 Peter O'Brien
1909–11 T206 Peter O'Brien
St Paul Saints · American Association · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Peter O'Brien is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Peter O'Brien, a member of the historic St Paul Saints (American Association), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 8 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 890 examples have been graded, with only 11 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Peter O'Brien
Born 1877 in Binghamton, New York (d. 1917), Pete O'Brien was a left-handed-hitting, right-handed-throwing infielder who played three major-league seasons, with Cincinnati (1901), the St. Louis Browns (1906), and Cleveland and Washington (1907), batting .223 over 249 games.
Confirmed backs (8)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 559 | 9 | 37 | 84 | 140 | 99 | 112 | 78 |
| SGC | 331 | 2 | 5 | 40 | 58 | 78 | 59 | 89 |
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 | 298 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 40 |
| Sweet Caporal | 33 |
| Polar Bear | 29 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 28 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 12 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| Tolstoi | 5 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Unknown back | 107 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 8 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Cycle 1910 | 3 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 199 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 36 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 31 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 46 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 7 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Peter O'Brien card?
The Peter O'Brien 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 St Paul Saints player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 8 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 890 examples of the Peter O'Brien have been graded, with only 11 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Peter O'Brien come with?
The Peter O'Brien is confirmed with 8 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Peter O'Brien 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.