1909-11 T206 Shag Shaughnessy
1909–11 T206 Shag Shaughnessy
Roanoke Tigers · Virginia State League · Southern Leaguer print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Shag Shaughnessy is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Shag Shaughnessy, a member of the historic Roanoke Tigers (Virginia State League), and was printed in the Southern Leaguer series, known with 3 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 598 examples have been graded, with only 16 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Shag Shaughnessy
Francis Joseph "Shag" Shaughnessy (1883-1969) was a Notre Dame two-sport star who became one of the most influential figures in minor-league baseball, far more as an executive than as a player. After starring in baseball and football at Notre Dame (football captain in 1904), he reached the majors only briefly as an outfielder, appearing in nine games for the Washington Senators (1905) and Philadelphia Athletics (1908) and batting .281 in 32 at-bats. His true calling was managing: he led the Roanoke Tigers of the Virginia State League to the 1909 pennant, the very club and years pictured on this T206 "Southern Leaguer" card, and later piloted Fort Wayne and three straight Ottawa pennant winners on the way to a 19-year managerial record of 1148-1012. Nicknamed "Shag," he is best remembered for inventing the "Shaughnessy playoff," the four-team postseason format adopted across the International League in 1933 and later borrowed by the NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB. He served as International League president from 1936 to 1960 and was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in its inaugural 1983 class (and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1963). As a minor-league subject depicted mid-career at Roanoke, he is one of the T206 set's more obscure and interesting figures.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (3)
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 | 343 | 12 | 28 | 37 | 58 | 73 | 63 | 72 |
| SGC | 255 | 4 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 37 | 52 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Old Mill | 137 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 127 |
| Hindu | 23 |
| Unknown back | 56 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 21 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 123 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 111 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Shag Shaughnessy card?
The Shag Shaughnessy 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 Roanoke Tigers player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 3 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 598 examples of the Shag Shaughnessy have been graded, with only 16 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Shag Shaughnessy come with?
The Shag Shaughnessy is confirmed with 3 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Shag Shaughnessy 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 Roanoke Tigers 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.