1909-11 T206 Bill Bernhard
1909–11 T206 Bill Bernhard
Nashville Volunteers · Southern Association · Southern Leaguer print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Bill Bernhard is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bill Bernhard, a member of the historic Nashville Volunteers (Southern Association), and was printed in the Southern Leaguer series, known with 3 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 562 examples have been graded, with only 12 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bill Bernhard
Bill Bernhard, born March 16, 1871 in Clarence, New York, pitched amateur ball around Buffalo before turning pro with Palmyra of the New York State League in 1897, where he threw a no-hitter against Batavia. Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies, the 6-foot-1 right-hander debuted in 1899 and, across nine major-league seasons (1899-1907) with the Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics, and Cleveland Bronchos/Naps, compiled a 116-81 record with a 3.04 ERA. His finest year was 1902, when he went 18-5 with a 2.15 ERA; he won 23 games in 1904. Bernhard was central to the American League's 1901 raid: Connie Mack signed him alongside Napoleon Lajoie, and when a Pennsylvania court injunction barred them, both jumped to Cleveland in 1902. Nicknamed "Strawberry Bill" (also "Big Bill"), he later managed the Southern Association's Nashville Volunteers—the team shown on his T206 card—piloting them to the 1908 pennant and still pitching for them into his late 30s. He died March 30, 1949, in San Diego.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (3)
Chip colour marks each back's rarity tier. See the full T206 back rarity ranking →
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 339 | 9 | 16 | 38 | 92 | 65 | 62 | 57 |
| SGC | 223 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 31 | 50 | 43 | 76 |
NM 7+ bundles grades 7–10; 1 & Auth bundles grade 1, 1.5 & Authentic. Totals are subject-level (summed across all backs). Population as of 2026-06.
PSA by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Old Mill | 168 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 97 |
| Hindu | 13 |
| Unknown back | 61 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 15 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 124 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 84 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bill Bernhard card?
The Bill Bernhard is one of 524 subjects in the T206 "White Border" tobacco set issued 1909-1911, the hobby's most iconic vintage set (nicknamed "The Monster"). It pictures the Nashville Volunteers player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 3 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 562 examples of the Bill Bernhard have been graded, with only 12 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Bill Bernhard come with?
The Bill Bernhard is confirmed with 3 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Bill Bernhard valuable?
Value depends heavily on the back brand and the card's grade: common backs in low grade trade modestly, while scarce backs and high grades command strong premiums. Check the current T206 Cards listings and eBay options above for live pricing.
More Nashville Volunteers cards
Sources: t206resource.com, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and Inside T206 by Scot Reader. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-08-28.