1909-11 T206 Bob Rhoades (Hands At Chest)
1909–11 T206 Bob Rhoades
Cleveland Naps · American League · 350 Only print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Bob Rhoades (“Hands At Chest” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bob Rhoades, a member of the historic Cleveland Naps (American League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 8 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 945 examples have been graded, with only 30 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bob Rhoades
Born Barton Emory Rhoads on October 4, 1879, in Wooster, Ohio, this right-handed pitcher came off the Ohio sandlots to semipro ball with Chicago's Spaldings in 1900 before signing with the Memphis Egyptians of the Southern League in 1901, where he went 22-12. He reached the majors with Chicago's National League club in 1902, was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals, and then landed with the Cleveland Naps midway through 1903, becoming a fixture in their rotation through 1909. Nicknamed "Dusty" — a tag hung on him by Southern Association fans during a stint in Little Rock — Rhoads posted his finest season in 1906, going 22-10 with a 1.80 ERA while leading the American League in complete games (31), innings pitched (315), and shutouts (7). His signature moment came on September 18, 1908, when he no-hit the Boston Red Sox 2-1 as Cleveland battled Detroit down to the final days of one of the deadball era's tightest pennant races, finishing just a half-game short. He retired with a 97-82 record, a 2.61 ERA, and 21 shutouts over eight seasons, later settling in California and writing a newspaper column, "Dustin' 'Em Off," until his death in 1967.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (8)
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 | 558 | 22 | 36 | 71 | 139 | 100 | 107 | 83 |
| SGC | 387 | 8 | 9 | 39 | 60 | 105 | 65 | 101 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1910 | 287 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 61 |
| Sweet Caporal | 46 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 17 |
| Tolstoi | 12 |
| Cycle 1910 | 10 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 7 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Drum | 1 |
| Unknown back | 115 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 256 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 14 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 96 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 10 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bob Rhoades card?
The Bob Rhoades (Hands At Chest) 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 Cleveland Naps player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 8 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 945 examples of the Bob Rhoades have been graded, with only 30 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Bob Rhoades come with?
The Bob Rhoades is confirmed with 8 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Bob Rhoades 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.
Other poses of Bob Rhoades
More Cleveland Naps 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 2026-07-01.