1909-11 T206 Willie Keeler (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Willie Keeler
New York Highlanders · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Willie Keeler (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Willie Keeler, a member of the historic New York Highlanders (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1453 examples have been graded, with only 24 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Willie Keeler
Born 1872 in Brooklyn, NY (d. 1923), Willie Keeler was a left-handed outfielder who debuted in 1892 and played 19 major-league seasons. He batted .341 with 2,932 hits, 33 home runs, and 495 stolen bases in 2,123 games. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. He summed up his contact-hitting philosophy with the famous phrase 'hit 'em where they ain't,' and in 1897 he put together a 44-game hitting streak that stood as the National League record for decades.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 834 | 21 | 29 | 84 | 165 | 167 | 187 | 181 |
| SGC | 619 | 3 | 7 | 44 | 78 | 119 | 109 | 259 |
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 | 204 |
| Piedmont | 156 |
| Sweet Caporal | 81 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 63 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 41 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 36 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 25 |
| El Principe de Gales | 17 |
| Old Mill | 6 |
| Unknown back | 205 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 18 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 2 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 335 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 53 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 26 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 120 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 5 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 60 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Willie Keeler card?
The Willie Keeler (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 New York Highlanders player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1453 examples of the Willie Keeler have been graded, with only 24 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Willie Keeler come with?
The Willie Keeler is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Willie Keeler 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.