1909-11 T206 Ted Breitenstein
1909–11 T206 Ted Breitenstein
New Orleans Pelicans · Southern Association · Southern Leaguer print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Ted Breitenstein is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Ted Breitenstein, a member of the historic New Orleans Pelicans (Southern Association), and was printed in the Southern Leaguer series, known with 3 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 534 examples have been graded, with only 17 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Ted Breitenstein
Ted Breitenstein was a durable left-handed pitcher who reached the majors from St. Louis sandlot ball, joining the "Brown Reserves" before debuting with the St. Louis Browns in 1891. In his first big-league start, on October 4, 1891, he no-hit the Louisville Colonels 8-0. He pitched for the Browns (1891-96), Cincinnati Reds (1897-1900), and Cardinals (1901), leading the National League with a 3.18 ERA in 1893 and throwing 447-1/3 innings in 1894. On April 22, 1898, he no-hit Pittsburgh 11-0 in the first instance of two same-day major-league no-hitters. He finished 160-170 with an ERA near 4.03 and roughly 893 strikeouts, and formed the "Pretzel Battery" with German-American catcher Heinie Peitz. Later he starred for the New Orleans Pelicans in the Southern Association, helping win the 1905 pennant and earning the nickname "The Grand Old Man" — the career that placed him among T206's Southern Leaguer subjects (1869-1935).
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 | 325 | 14 | 14 | 45 | 70 | 69 | 62 | 51 |
| SGC | 209 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 18 | 54 | 26 | 79 |
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 | 12 |
| Unknown back | 49 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 17 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 103 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 89 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Ted Breitenstein card?
The Ted Breitenstein 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 New Orleans Pelicans player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 3 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 534 examples of the Ted Breitenstein have been graded, with only 17 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Ted Breitenstein come with?
The Ted Breitenstein 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 Ted Breitenstein 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 New Orleans Pelicans 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.