T206 is the greatest baseball card set of all time. Since you’re here, you probably already knew that. One of the reasons is there are so many different ways to collect T206s. One of the more popular approaches in the “back run”. A back run is a collection of cards where the fronts are the same, but the backs are all different.
The most important thing to think about before beginning to collect a back run is, “Which backs are a part of the run?” Some poses will make for a fairly easy-to-complete project, while others are pretty much impossible. For example, a Dode Criss back run consists of 7 different front/back combos. The toughest backs in the run are Old Mill and Sovereign 150. Neither should be too difficult to find, nor should they break the bank. In contrast, a Ty Cobb Red Background Portrait back run consists of 24 different front/back combos. A few of those combos are impossible to find, and even harder to afford. There are only 2 examples of the Broad Leaf 460, both firmly entrenched in collections. Finding a Red Cobb with a Drum, Carolina Brights, Blank Back or Red Hindu back would be similarly tough.
Before you commit to chasing a T206 back run, you should find out which backs exist for each pose that you are considering. Some collectors will want to find a back run that is fairly easy and inexpensive to complete, while others may prefer more of a challenge, and not be deterred by a larger financial commitment.
Let’s take a look at how the T206 Print Groups can help you select a pose that suits your preferences:
150-350 Series:
With just a few exceptions, a pose from the 150-350 Series will be easier (and cheaper) to complete than a pose from the rest of the set. The toughest backs in this series are Old Mill and Hindu. Either back can take awhile to locate, but it won’t break the bank once you do.
350 Only Series:
Completing a back run featuring a 350 Series subject is tougher than a 150-350 pose. 350 Series poses are found with some combination of the following scarce backs: Broad Leaf 350, Carolina Brights, Drum, Tolstoi. Most 350 Series poses will have some, but not all of those backs. For example, Tris Speaker is known with all 4 of those backs, but Jimmy Collins is only known with Carolina Brights and Tolstoi backs.
350-460 Series:
Other than the Super Prints, this series contains some of the toughest back run subjects you could choose. This series features Drum, Black Lenox, Piedmont 42, Red Hindu, and Uzit backs.
460 Only Series:
These poses can be found with some combination of American Beauty 460, Black Lenox, Brown Lenox, Cycle 460, Piedmont 42, Red Hindu, and Uzit backs.
Super Prints:
The Super Prints* were so named because they were printed with so many backs. The Red Background Ty Cobb Portrait mentioned above was printed with 24 backs. The exact back makeup of the six poses differs, but they can be found with the following array of rare backs: Broad Leaf 350, Broad Leaf 460, Carolina Brights, Drum, and Black Lenox.
Southern Leaguers:
A Southern Leaguer back run can range from very easy to complete, to near impossible. 14 poses were printed with only Piedmont 350 and Old Mill backs. Another 34 poses were printed with Piedmont 350, Old Mill, and Brown Hindu backs. If those two or three backs is all you are looking for, it should be a fairly easy and affordable project. However, some Southern Leaguers were also printed with the extremely rare Brown Old Mill back. In addition, Southern League poses can be found with a blank back. If the poses you are working on exists with both Brown Old Mill and Blank backs, that is going to make for an incredibly expensive and challenging project.
