1909-11 T206 Vic Willis (Batting)
1909–11 T206 Vic Willis
St Louis Cardinals · National League · 350-460 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Vic Willis (“Batting” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Vic Willis, a member of the historic St Louis Cardinals (National League), and was printed in the 350-460 series, known with 12 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1265 examples have been graded, with only 21 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Vic Willis
Born 1876 in Cecil County, MD (d. 1947), Vic Willis was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1898 and played 13 major-league seasons. He went 249-205 with a 2.63 ERA and 1,651 strikeouts across 513 appearances. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995.
Confirmed backs (12)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 729 | 16 | 26 | 97 | 161 | 142 | 163 | 124 |
| SGC | 536 | 5 | 7 | 59 | 83 | 122 | 96 | 164 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 91 |
| Piedmont | 83 |
| Sweet Caporal | 80 |
| Polar Bear | 74 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 64 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 44 |
| Old Mill | 34 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 24 |
| El Principe de Gales | 23 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 22 |
| Tolstoi | 15 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 11 |
| American Beauty | 11 |
| Cycle 1911 | 8 |
| Drum | 7 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 6 |
| Uzit | 4 |
| Lenox | 1 |
| Unknown back | 127 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 15 |
| Cycle 1911 | 4 |
| Drum 1910 | 4 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 14 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 2 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 39 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 102 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 68 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 59 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 22 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 148 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 42 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 14 |
| Uzit 1909-11 | 3 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Vic Willis card?
The Vic Willis (Batting) 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 12 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1265 examples of the Vic Willis have been graded, with only 21 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Vic Willis come with?
The Vic Willis is confirmed with 12 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Uzit. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Vic Willis 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.