The legendary double play combination of shortstop Joe Tinker, second baseman Johnny Evers, and first baseman Frank Chance of the Chicago Cubs from 1903-1912 has been immortalized in poetry and lore since their heyday. Perhaps no artifacts better represent their achievements and fame than a rare set of 1909-1911 T206 tobacco era baseball cards featuring all three players. These colorful pieces of cardboard have become iconic in their own right due to their association with the famed infielders.
Produced from 1909-1911 by the American Tobacco Company, the “T206” set has become one of the most iconic in the history of sports card collecting. The cards featured active major league players from the time on the front with advertisements for various tobacco products on the back. While numerous players were included in the 525 card series, the 1909, 1910, and 1911 cards of Tinker (S55, S93, S147), Evers (S56, S94, S148), and Chance (S57, S95, S149) have taken on outsized significance. They are exceedingly rare, iconic representations of one of the most acclaimed double plays combos of all-time.
The trio entered their prime and gained widespread renown together on the Chicago Cubs clubs that won back-to-back World Series titles in 1907 and 1908. As the Cubs’ everyday infield for over a decade under manager-third baseman Frank Chance, they became known for their slick fielding prowess and ability to turn lightning quick double plays with military precision. Their wizardry was highlighted by Chance’s strong and accurate throws from first base to Evers at second who, in turn, delivered the ball on time and on target to Tinker at shortstop.
Their intricate dance on the field together was immortalized in the poem “Baseball’s Sad Lexicon” written by newspaperman Franklin P. Adams in 1910. The poem went on to be one of the most reprinted sports poems ever written and further etched the trio into American folklore. At the time, the Cubs were one of the earliest big market clubs and the major leagues were increasing in popularity nationwide. Tinker, Evers, and Chance became the new sporting heroes for millions of baseball fans across the country.
Given their fame and accomplishments during the peak popularity of the T206 set, the individual cards of each player have become among the most in demand in the entire vintage baseball card market. In pristine condition with strong eye appeal, high grade examples of their 1909, 1910, and 1911 issues routinely sell for five figures or more at public auction. While the set included many other all-time greats like Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Christy Mathewson, the Tinker, Evers, Chance trio remains among the true blue chip cards.
In October 2015, an PSA NM-MT 8 graded 1909 T206 Joe Tinker card sold for an astounding $93,000 through Robert Edward Auctions, setting a new record price for any vintage Tinker card. Less than a year later in August 2016, a PSA EX-MT 5 graded 1909 T206 Frank Chance realized $101,563.25 at auction through Heritage, also setting a new high water mark for the iconic first baseman. These astronomical prices indicate how beloved the items remain over 100 years later as prized pieces of baseball history tied directly to three of the games earliest big stars.
While scarcity and condition certainly play a major role in the cards’ values, their enduring fame sustained by elements like the “Tinker to Evers to Chance” poem ensures ongoing strong demand from collectors. Few other sets of historic players are so strongly connected in the public imagination due to their peerless performances up the middle for one of the earliest great baseball dynasties. Their T206 representations are some of the most significant baseball cards not just for their excellent condition and rarity, but for their direct ties to one of the games truly legendary double play trios.
More than a century after their glory years patrolling the infield at West Side Park in Chicago, the names of Tinker, Evers, and Chance remain synonymous with the quick precision of turning the double play. Their 1909-1911 T206 baseball cards stand as colorful snapshots capturing them at the absolute peak of their fame. Scarce survivors from the early 20th century production run, high quality examples routinely set new standards in the marketplace due to their direct association with heroes who helped advance baseball’s growing popularity across America. For historians, enthusiasts, and collectors alike, they represent precious remnants of the sporting legends and their incredible contributions to the national pastime.