1910 T206 Eddie Plank

Eddie Plank won 326 games in the major leagues. He was the first left-handed pitcher to reach 300 wins. He spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Athletics, helping Connie Mack's teams win pennants and World Series titles. The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted him in 1946. And yet, for decades, Plank was better known among collectors than he ever was among casual baseball fans. That is because his 1909-1911 T206 tobacco card is one of the rarest trading cards in existence, second only to the T206 Honus Wagner.

Quick Value Summary

• Item: 1909-1911 T206 Eddie Plank (Sweet Caporal back)

• Year: 1909-1911

• Category: Sports Cards

• Manufacturer: American Tobacco Company

• Condition Range:

  • Poor to Fair (PSA 1-2): $30,000 - $50,000
  • Good (PSA 2.5-3): $50,000 - $80,000
  • VG/EX (PSA 4): $250,000 - $320,000
  • EX (PSA 5): $75,000 - $150,000
  • EX/MT (PSA 6): $200,000 - $300,000

• Record Sale: $318,997 (PSA 4, Mile High Card Company, September 2024)

• Known Population: Approximately 100-150 copies across all grades

• Rarity: Extremely Rare

The Story

The T206 set is the most famous baseball card set ever produced. Issued between 1909 and 1911 by the American Tobacco Company, the cards were inserted into cigarette packs as promotional items. The set contains over 500 different subjects, covering the biggest stars of the Dead Ball Era. Most cards are relatively common, turning up at card shows and in online auctions for a few hundred dollars.

But two cards in the set are extraordinarily rare: the Honus Wagner and the Eddie Plank.

The Wagner card's scarcity has a well-known explanation. Wagner supposedly objected to his image being used to sell tobacco products (though some historians dispute this). Production was halted, and only 50 to 75 copies survived.

Plank's card is a different mystery. Nobody knows exactly why it is so scarce. The most prevalent theory involves the printing plate. According to PSA and other researchers, the plate used to print Plank's card was either defective from the start or became damaged during production. The result: many of the printed Plank cards were unusable and were destroyed during quality control. The cards that survived often show poor centering and printing inconsistencies, which supports this theory.

Another theory suggests the card was discontinued for a period and then later reinstated, resulting in fewer total copies. T206 Resource, a dedicated research site, has documented Plank cards appearing with several different tobacco brand backs, including Sweet Caporal, Piedmont, Hindu, and El Principe de Gales. This variety of backs suggests the card was produced across multiple series over the three-year production window, which complicates the simple "broken plate" explanation.

Whatever the cause, the result is clear: Plank cards are genuinely scarce. While the Wagner gets the headlines, the Plank is the card that serious T206 collectors spend years searching for.

How to Identify It

The T206 Eddie Plank card shows a portrait of Plank in his Philadelphia Athletics uniform.

Front:

• Plank is shown from the chest up, slightly angled

• He wears a dark Athletics cap with a white "A"

• The card has a white border surrounding the lithographed image

• "PLANK, PHILA. AMER." appears at the bottom of the front

Back:

• Various tobacco brand advertisements (Sweet Caporal is most common)

• The back brand does not significantly affect value for the Plank card, unlike some other T206 subjects

Centering: One of the hallmarks of the Plank card is generally poor centering. Many authentic examples show the image shifted noticeably to one side. While poor centering hurts the grade, it actually supports authenticity for this particular card. A perfectly centered Plank would be unusual.

Size: Standard T206 dimensions, approximately 1.47 x 2.62 inches (37mm x 67mm).

Common confusions: No other T206 card depicts Eddie Plank, so there is no variation confusion within the set. However, Plank appeared in other card sets of the era (T205, etc.), which are far less valuable.

Value by Condition

The T206 Plank commands extraordinary prices across all grades.

PSA 1-2 (Poor to Fair): Even at the lowest grades, the Plank card sells for $30,000 to $50,000. These are cards with major defects: creases, missing paper, staining, or trimming. Collectors accept these flaws because the alternative is not owning a Plank card at all.

PSA 3 (Good): The mid-range for most surviving examples. Values range from $50,000 to $80,000. Cards at this grade show moderate wear, rounded corners, and surface issues but retain a complete image.

PSA 4 (VG/EX): This is where prices jump significantly. In September 2024, a PSA 4 Plank sold through Mile High Card Company for $318,997, setting a record for the grade. This price reflects the reality that PSA 4 is a relatively high grade for this card.

PSA 5 (Excellent): Fewer confirmed examples exist at this level. Estimates range from $75,000 to $150,000, though the market is thin.

PSA 6 (EX/MT): The Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick owns a Plank card valued at approximately $400,000, believed to be one of the highest-graded examples. At EX/MT or better, the Plank enters true trophy territory.

PSA 7 or higher: No confirmed examples at this grade. If one appeared, it would likely sell for $500,000 or more.

Authentication and Fakes

The value of the Plank card makes it a target for forgery. The most common issues:

Trimmed cards: Some owners have trimmed the borders of lower-grade Plank cards to remove damage, making the card appear cleaner but technically altered. PSA and SGC detect trimming through fiber analysis and dimensional measurement.

Recolored or restored cards: Faded or stained areas may be touched up with paint or markers. UV light examination reveals most restoration attempts.

Complete forgeries: Modern printing technology can reproduce the front image, but the card stock, ink composition, and aging patterns are extremely difficult to replicate convincingly. Professional graders handle enough genuine T206 cards to spot fakes quickly.

Always buy graded. A PSA, SGC, or CGC (Certified Guaranty Company for cards) holder provides authentication and grade. Given minimum values of $30,000, the $50 to $150 grading cost is insignificant.

Where to Sell

The T206 Plank is a marquee card that will attract attention at any major venue.

Heritage Auctions: The leading sports card auction house. They have sold multiple Plank cards and have the marketing infrastructure to maximize exposure.

Mile High Card Company: Handled the record-setting PSA 4 sale in 2024. Specializes in high-end vintage cards.

PWCC Marketplace: Another top venue for six-figure card sales.

Private sale: The T206 collector community is well-connected. Networks like Net54 (vintage card forum) and direct dealer relationships can facilitate private transactions with lower fees.

Expected costs: PSA grading at the Super Express or higher tier ($300 to $600 for declared values over $10,000). Auction house seller premiums: 5% to 10%. Insured shipping for a $100,000+ card: $100 to $300.

Not sure about the condition of yours? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for an initial estimate.

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