1909–11 T206 Steve Evans
St Louis Cardinals · National League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Steve Evans is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Steve Evans, a member of the historic St Louis Cardinals (National League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 848 examples have been graded, with only 24 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Steve Evans
Louis Richard "Steve" Evans (1885-1943), a left-handed-hitting right fielder from Cleveland, Ohio, signed his first professional contract in 1907 and reached the majors with the New York Giants in 1908. He spent most of his big-league career with the St. Louis Cardinals (1909-1913), his club at the time of this T206 card, then jumped to the upstart Federal League with the Brooklyn Tip-Tops (1914-1915) and Baltimore Terrapins (1915). Over seven major-league seasons he batted .287. His best National League year came in 1911, when he led the Cardinals in hitting at .294 with 13 triples and 71 RBIs; in 1914 he enjoyed his finest all-around campaign, hitting .348 with 15 triples and a .556 slugging mark for Brooklyn. Evans had a remarkable knack for getting hit by pitches, leading the NL from 1910 to 1912 and setting a single-season record of 31 in 1910 that stood 61 years until Ron Hunt broke it. Nicknamed simply "Steve" (its origin a mystery, since his given name was Louis), he was one of the Deadball Era's celebrated pranksters, remembered for playing right field under a parasol. He was never elected to the Hall of Fame.
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 | 496 | 19 | 33 | 60 | 127 | 88 | 108 | 61 |
| SGC | 352 | 5 | 9 | 45 | 54 | 75 | 60 | 104 |
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 | 237 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 53 |
| Polar Bear | 44 |
| Sweet Caporal | 31 |
| El Principe de Gales | 24 |
| Tolstoi | 12 |
| Carolina Brights | 6 |
| Unknown back | 89 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 2 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 17 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 227 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 35 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 62 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 9 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Steve Evans card?
The Steve Evans 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 Cardinals player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 848 examples of the Steve Evans 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 Steve Evans come with?
The Steve Evans 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 Steve Evans 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 St Louis Cardinals 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.