1909-11 T206 Tommy Leach (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Tommy Leach
Pittsburgh Pirates · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Tommy Leach (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Tommy Leach, a member of the historic Pittsburgh Pirates (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 800 examples have been graded, with only 17 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Tommy Leach
Tommy Leach signed his first pro contract in 1896 and broke through in 1898, hitting .325 for Auburn of the New York State League, which prompted Louisville owner Barney Dreyfuss to buy him for $650. He debuted with the Louisville Colonels that year and became a Pittsburgh Pirate when the clubs merged in 1900, opening a 19-year National League career. A third baseman who later moved to center field, Leach led the NL in both home runs (6) and triples (22) in 1902 and topped the league with 126 runs in 1909. He starred in the first modern World Series in 1903, hitting four triples, and helped Pittsburgh win the 1909 title, batting .360 with a team-high nine hits. Over his career (1898-1918, also with the Cubs and Reds) he hit .269 with 2,143 hits, 172 triples, 361 stolen bases, and 63 home runs (49 inside-the-park). Nicknamed "Wee Tommy" for his small 5-foot-6 frame, he was among the deadball era's best small-man power hitters. He is not in 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 | 502 | 14 | 29 | 54 | 100 | 110 | 117 | 78 |
| SGC | 298 | 3 | 9 | 40 | 43 | 64 | 47 | 92 |
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 | 113 |
| Piedmont | 101 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 52 |
| Sweet Caporal | 50 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 29 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 27 |
| El Principe de Gales | 17 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 11 |
| Sovereign | 9 |
| Hindu | 7 |
| Old Mill | 4 |
| Unknown back | 82 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 9 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 6 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 132 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 31 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 18 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 64 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 37 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Tommy Leach card?
The Tommy Leach (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 Pittsburgh Pirates player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 800 examples of the Tommy Leach 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 Tommy Leach come with?
The Tommy Leach is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Tommy Leach 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.
Other poses of Tommy Leach
More Pittsburgh Pirates 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 2026-07-01.