1909-11 T206 Rube Waddell (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Rube Waddell
St Louis Browns · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Rube Waddell (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Rube Waddell, a member of the historic St Louis Browns (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1317 examples have been graded, with only 24 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Rube Waddell
Born 1876 in Bradford, PA (d. 1914), Rube Waddell was a left-handed pitcher who debuted in 1897 and played 13 major-league seasons. He went 193-143 with a 2.16 ERA and 2,316 strikeouts across 407 appearances. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946. His 349 strikeouts in 1904 set a modern single-season record that stood for 61 years, until Sandy Koufax fanned 382 in 1965.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 689 | 21 | 33 | 65 | 136 | 125 | 145 | 164 |
| SGC | 628 | 3 | 13 | 40 | 77 | 127 | 136 | 232 |
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 | 138 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 92 |
| Sweet Caporal | 89 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 66 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 42 |
| Sovereign | 19 |
| Old Mill | 15 |
| Hindu | 15 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 15 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 6 |
| Unknown back | 192 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 13 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 9 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 237 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 94 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 20 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 31 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 151 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 2 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 71 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Rube Waddell card?
The Rube Waddell (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 St Louis Browns player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1317 examples of the Rube Waddell have been graded, with only 24 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Rube Waddell come with?
The Rube Waddell is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Rube Waddell 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.