1909-11 T206 Rube Dessau
1909–11 T206 Rube Dessau
Baltimore Orioles · Eastern League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Rube Dessau is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Rube Dessau, a member of the historic Baltimore Orioles (Eastern League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 7 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 644 examples have been graded, with only 9 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Rube Dessau
Frank Rolland "Rube" Dessau was a right-handed pitcher whose T206 card captures him during his long minor-league career rather than a major-league stardom he never achieved. Born March 29, 1883, in New Galilee, Pennsylvania, Dessau reached the big leagues only briefly: he debuted with the National League's Boston Doves on September 22, 1907, appearing in just two games, then resurfaced in 1910 with the Brooklyn Superbas, for whom he pitched in nineteen games. Across those two cups of coffee he compiled a 2-4 record with a 6.53 ERA and 25 strikeouts, his final major-league outing coming on October 12, 1910. The bulk of his career was spent in the minors with clubs including Baltimore of the Eastern League (the team shown on his card), the Birmingham Barons, Harrisburg Senators, and Atlanta Crackers. After his playing days, Dessau managed minor-league teams for eleven seasons, guiding the York White Roses, Decatur Commodores, and Springfield Senators. He died May 6, 1952, in York, Pennsylvania. A common-player subject in the T206 set, Dessau is one of its many obscure deadball-era figures rather than a scarce or celebrated card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Confirmed backs (7)
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 | 356 | 6 | 15 | 33 | 77 | 65 | 95 | 65 |
| SGC | 288 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 51 | 59 | 60 | 85 |
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 | 235 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 68 |
| Polar Bear | 36 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 7 |
| Cycle 1910 | 7 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Drum | 1 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 8 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 191 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 28 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 54 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Rube Dessau card?
The Rube Dessau 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 Baltimore Orioles player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 7 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 644 examples of the Rube Dessau have been graded, with only 9 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Rube Dessau come with?
The Rube Dessau is confirmed with 7 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Rube Dessau 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.
More Baltimore Orioles 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 2026-07-01.