1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb (Bat On Shoulder)
1909–11 T206 Ty Cobb
Detroit Tigers · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Ty Cobb (“Bat On Shoulder” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Ty Cobb, a member of the historic Detroit Tigers (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1906 examples have been graded, with only 39 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Ty Cobb
Born 1886 in Narrows, GA (d. 1961), Ty Cobb was a left-handed outfielder who debuted in 1905 and played 24 major-league seasons. He batted .366 with 4,189 hits, 117 home runs, and 892 stolen bases in 3,035 games. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.
Confirmed backs (4)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1173 | 33 | 34 | 91 | 161 | 201 | 292 | 361 |
| SGC | 733 | 6 | 7 | 42 | 59 | 131 | 151 | 337 |
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 | 195 |
| Piedmont | 146 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 136 |
| Sweet Caporal | 120 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 104 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 74 |
| Sovereign | 26 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 26 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 16 |
| Old Mill | 6 |
| Unknown back | 324 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 258 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 116 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 27 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 36 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 199 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 4 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 92 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb card?
The Ty Cobb (Bat On Shoulder) 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 Detroit Tigers player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1906 examples of the Ty Cobb have been graded, with only 39 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Ty Cobb come with?
The Ty Cobb is confirmed with 4 tobacco-brand backs: Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Ty Cobb 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.