1909–11 T206 William Otey
Norfolk Tars · Virginia State League · Southern Leaguer print series
The 1909–1911 T206 William Otey is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts William Otey, a member of the historic Norfolk Tars (Virginia State League), and was printed in the Southern Leaguer series, known with 3 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 546 examples have been graded, with only 8 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About William Otey
William Tilford "Steamboat Bill" Otey was a left-handed pitcher born December 16, 1886, in Dayton, Ohio, whose T206 card captures him as a minor leaguer with the Norfolk Tars — one of the set's genuinely obscure "Southern Leaguer" subjects rather than a big-league star. Otey's major-league career amounted to little more than a cup of coffee spread across three seasons: he debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 27, 1907, resurfaced with the Washington Senators (Nationals) in 1910, and threw his final big-league pitch on June 24, 1911. In all he compiled just a 1–5 record with a 5.01 ERA and 33 strikeouts in the majors. The bulk of his career was in the minors, where he pitched for Norfolk, the Roanoke Tigers, Rochester Bronchos, Wheeling Stogies, and his hometown Dayton Veterans. Nicknamed "Steamboat Bill," he never made a lasting big-league mark and returned to Dayton, where he died on April 22, 1931, at age 44. His card endures chiefly as part of the legendary T206 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Confirmed backs (3)
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 | 316 | 6 | 20 | 33 | 84 | 61 | 55 | 57 |
| SGC | 230 | 2 | 6 | 24 | 36 | 38 | 47 | 77 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Old Mill | 122 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 111 |
| Hindu | 19 |
| Unknown back | 64 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 18 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 115 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 97 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 William Otey card?
The William Otey 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 Norfolk Tars player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 3 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 546 examples of the William Otey have been graded, with only 8 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 William Otey come with?
The William Otey is confirmed with 3 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 William Otey 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.
More Norfolk Tars 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 2026-08-28.