1909–11 T206 Spike Shannon
Kansas City Blues · American Association · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Spike Shannon is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Spike Shannon, a member of the historic Kansas City Blues (American Association), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 810 examples have been graded, with only 22 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Spike Shannon
William Porter "Spike" Shannon broke into pro ball in 1898 with Charleston of the Southern League and spent years grinding through the minors, starring for the St. Paul Saints, where he hit .344 with 41 steals in 1902 and led the league with 132 runs in 1903. An outfielder, he reached the majors in 1904, playing five seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals (1904-06), New York Giants (1906-08), and Pittsburgh Pirates (1908). His signature year came in 1907, when he played every game for John McGraw's Giants and led the National League with 104 runs scored. A slap-hitting, sure-handed fly-chaser famous for playing the treacherous "sun field" at the Polo Grounds, he posted a career .262 average with 145 stolen bases and mentored rookie Fred Snodgrass in 1908. His nickname reportedly came from a wooden knee brace he built and fastened with a couple of spikes after a football injury. On this T206 card he is shown with the Kansas City Blues of the American Association, where he played 1909-11 after his big-league days; he later umpired in the minors for 18 years. Shannon is one of the set's many common deadball-era subjects rather than a scarce star.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (6)
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 | 490 | 14 | 35 | 72 | 118 | 91 | 86 | 74 |
| SGC | 320 | 8 | 5 | 42 | 53 | 78 | 58 | 76 |
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 | 257 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 44 |
| Sweet Caporal | 35 |
| Polar Bear | 25 |
| El Principe de Gales | 16 |
| Tolstoi | 15 |
| Carolina Brights | 4 |
| Unknown back | 94 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 1 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 18 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 193 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 34 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 65 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 7 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Spike Shannon card?
The Spike Shannon 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 Kansas City Blues player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 810 examples of the Spike Shannon have been graded, with only 22 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Spike Shannon come with?
The Spike Shannon is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: Carolina Brights, El Principe de Gales, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Spike Shannon 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 Kansas City Blues 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.