1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb (Portrait - Red)
1909–11 T206 Ty Cobb
Detroit Tigers · American League · Super Print print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Ty Cobb (“Portrait - Red” 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 Super Print series, known with 15 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 4395 examples have been graded, with only 89 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 (15)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 2740 | 69 | 85 | 209 | 370 | 477 | 610 | 920 |
| SGC | 1655 | 20 | 32 | 107 | 185 | 292 | 286 | 733 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Polar Bear | 302 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 277 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 275 |
| Sweet Caporal | 265 |
| Piedmont | 219 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 207 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 168 |
| Old Mill | 126 |
| Tolstoi | 53 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 42 |
| Ty Cobb | 21 |
| El Principe de Gales | 20 |
| Sovereign | 19 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 16 |
| Cycle 1911 | 14 |
| Carolina Brights | 10 |
| Lenox | 9 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 7 |
| Cycle | 6 |
| Hindu | 6 |
| Drum | 2 |
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 1 |
| Unknown back | 667 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1909 | 1 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 7 |
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 3 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 10 |
| Cycle 1910 | 12 |
| Cycle 1911 | 13 |
| Drum 1910 | 1 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 11 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 1 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 7 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 100 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 327 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 200 |
| Polar Bear 1909 | 1 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 299 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 49 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 8 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 2 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 334 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 219 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 50 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb card?
The Ty Cobb (Portrait - Red) 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 15 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 4395 examples of the Ty Cobb have been graded, with only 89 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 15 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Ty Cobb Back. 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.