1911 T205 Baseball Cards

Product Details

Known for its distinctive look, the 1911 T205 Baseball set can broken down into three separate sets because it has different designs for American League, National League and minor league cards.

In the end, however, the T205 cards are forever linked thanks to the gold leaf border.

1911 T205 Baseball Set Details

Covering the largest percentage of the 1911 T205 Baseball checklist with over half the cards, American League players are shown inside a diamond-shaped frame, along with a baseball, two bats, a catcher's glove and mask. A banner featuring the player's name and team city appears below the picture, while a logo and team name appear in an upper corner.

Coming in at a total that is slightly less than the American League players, the National League cards are given larger portrait shots and their edges blend into the card's solid background. They also have a team name and logo in the upper corner, but a facsimile autograph appears below the photo in place of a printed name. This marked the first time a replica signature was found in a major card set.

Minor league inclusions are the smallest group and feature a more elaborate design, including columns and other elements to frame a three-quarter length picture. All three designs are surrounded by a frame of gold which is very prone to chipping. This puts a considerable premium on high grades. The 1911 T205 Baseball cards measure roughly 1-7/16" by 2-5/8".

While the cards feature three different front designs, all 1911 T205 Baseball cards largely feature the same back design. T205 cards are among the first sets to feature biographical write-ups and statistics, staples of later baseball card issues, on the back. The player's full name also appears at the top. At the very bottom is an advertisement for one of the 11 cigarette brands from the American Tobacco Company that used the cards in their packages.

1911 T205 Baseball Ad Backs Rarity Breakdown

The brands are (in order of scarcity, from common to rare):

Collectors may elect to complete a type set featuring an example for each advertisement back, but those seeking a tougher chase can look further into the differences which amount to 17 total back variations. Piedmont cards have either a Factory 25 or 42 marking. Sweet Caporal is available in Factory 25 or 42 with black ink. Sweet Caporal is also found with Factory 42 in red. Hassan cards mention either Factory 30 or 649. American Beauty backs appear with either black or green ink, as does Broad Leaf. There have also been some proofs with blank backs uncovered.

In all, there are 198 subjects that make up the basic T205 Baseball set. However, multiple cards and poses for several players push the amount to 208 cards in the master set. Variations involving both the front designs and the text on the back add to that total, which many collectors try to complete as well. The Dick Hoblitzell variation that does not include stats on the back is the most elusive card in the set.

Although some chose to omit the twelve minor league cards due to their relative scarcity, they are considered to be part of the 1911 T205 Baseball checklist. The minor league subjects are found only with Hassan or Polar Bear backs.