Baseball cards first emerged as a popular collectible in the late 19th century when cigarette and tobacco companies began inserting non-sports related images into their products. In the early 20th century, tobacco companies like American Tobacco Company and Fleer Chewing Gum Company started creating baseball cards to include in cigarettes and gum to help promote and market their brands.
The early 1920s saw several new baseball card releases that helped popularize the hobby of baseball card collecting. In 1921, American Caramel Company issued their famous “Caramel Cards” set featuring individual players from the National League and American League. The following year in 1922, American Leaf Tobacco Company issued their “Large Size Diamond Stars” set which included cards measuring 2 1/4″ x 3 1/2″. These larger cards featured multiple players per card and are considered some of the most iconic vintage baseball cards.
The most significant baseball card release of the early 20th century came in 1924 when the iconic T206 White Border set was issued. Named after the tax classification (T206) assigned to the American Tobacco Company by the Treasury Department, the 1909-11 T206 set revolutionized baseball card collecting and helped cement it as a mainstream hobby. These cards featured single prominent players with vivid color portraits and biographical information printed on white border stock. Over 500 different baseball players are believed to have been featured in the sprawling T206 set.
Due to the immense popularity and wide distribution of the T206 set in the early 20th century, many of these cards have survived in remarkable numbers despite being over 100 years old. As such, unrestored high-grade T206 examples remain relatively attainable for most collectors even today. Here is a guide to values of T206 cards from the 1924 release period in different grades:
T206 Common Players (PSA 1-3): $100-300 – Players that were journeymen or had short careers typically sell in this range even in low grades. Examples include Jimmy Austin, Heinie Groh, and Red Ames.
T206 Common Stars (PSA 4-6): $300-1,000 – More established players that were stars of their era but not true legends sell in this range depending on condition. Examples include Sherry Magee, Grover Cleveland Alexander, and Harry Hooper.
T206 Future Hall of Famers (PSA 4-6): $1,000-3,000 – Future Hall of Famers still establishing themselves in 1924 sell for moderate prices in lower grades. Examples include Edd Roush, Burleigh Grimes, and George Sisler.
T206 Star Players (PSA 4-6): $3,000-7,000 – True stars of the deadball era in lower grades sell in this range. Examples include Home Run Baker, Zack Wheat, and Ed Walsh.
T206 Hall of Fame Stars (PSA 4-6): $7,000-15,000 – Future Hall of Famers who were true superstars in 1924 sell at these higher levels. Examples include Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, and Ty Cobb.
T206 Common Players (PSA 7-9): $300-1,000 – Higher graded common players still sell reasonably.
T206 Common Stars (PSA 7-9): $1,000-3,000 – More established players gain value in nicer condition.
T206 Future Hall of Famers (PSA 7-9): $3,000-7,000 – Future Hall of Famers see nice bumps in value at these grades.
T206 Star Players (PSA 7-9): $7,000-15,000 – True stars reach the five figure range in superb condition.
T206 Hall of Fame Stars (PSA 7-9): $15,000-50,000 – Superstar Hall of Famers can achieve amazing prices at high grades like PSA 8 or 9.
It’s important to note that beyond PSA 9, condition becomes much more important in determining a T206 card’s ultimate price. Examples that achieve the ultra-rare and prestigious PSA Gem Mint 10 grade have been known to sell for six figures or greater depending on the player featured. The most iconic T206 cards of superstars like Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, and Christy Mathewson in PSA 10 grade have even achieved prices in the millions at auction.
While the T206 set was released nearly 100 years ago in 1924, it remains one of the most iconic vintage issues due to the immense popularity and skillful marketing of the tobacco companies at the time. Even in lower grades, examples can be obtained by most collectors thanks to the large production numbers. As condition improves the value rises dramatically due to supply and demand. The T206 set established the modern model for sports card collecting that still holds true today.
