1909-11 T206 Vic Willis (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Vic Willis
Pittsburgh Pirates · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Vic Willis (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Vic Willis, a member of the historic Pittsburgh Pirates (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1274 examples have been graded, with only 22 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Vic Willis
Victor Gazaway Willis, born in Cecil County, Maryland in 1876 and raised in Newark, Delaware, broke into pro ball with Harrisburg in 1895 before Boston purchased his contract for $1,000. A big right-hander at 6-foot-2 with a sharp overhand delivery, he won 25 games as a rookie for the pennant-winning 1898 Boston Beaneaters, then went 27-8 in 1899, the year he threw a no-hitter against Washington on August 7. In 1902 he led the National League with 225 strikeouts and completed 45 games, still the modern NL record, working 410 innings. Traded to Pittsburgh, he won 20-plus in each of his four seasons there and helped the 1909 Pirates capture 110 games and the World Series title over Detroit. Over 13 years with Boston, Pittsburgh, and the 1910 Cardinals he finished 249-205 with a 2.63 ERA, 388 complete games, 50 shutouts, and 1,651 strikeouts. Nicknamed the "Delaware Peach" for his home state, he was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1995. He is one of the T206 set's Hall-of-Fame subjects.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (5)
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 | 728 | 19 | 26 | 79 | 159 | 131 | 148 | 166 |
| SGC | 546 | 3 | 7 | 48 | 65 | 105 | 104 | 214 |
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 | 141 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 137 |
| Sweet Caporal | 79 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 78 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 59 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 42 |
| Sovereign | 17 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 14 |
| Old Mill | 9 |
| Hindu | 9 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Unknown back | 134 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 17 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 15 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 203 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 75 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 15 |
| Sovereign 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 20 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 133 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 67 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Vic Willis card?
The Vic Willis (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 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1274 examples of the Vic Willis have been graded, with only 22 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 5 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. 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.
Other poses of Vic Willis
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.