1909–11 T206 Cad Coles
Augusta Tourists · South Atlantic League · Southern Leaguer print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Cad Coles is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Cad Coles, a member of the historic Augusta Tourists (South Atlantic League), and was printed in the Southern Leaguer series, known with 3 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 546 examples have been graded, with only 15 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Cad Coles
Cadwallader "Cad" Coles (January 17, 1886 – June 30, 1942) was a left-handed-hitting outfielder from Rock Hill, South Carolina, who played college ball at Clemson before turning professional. He built his reputation in the minors, starring for the Augusta Tourists (later Orphans) of the Class C South Atlantic, or "Sally," League around 1908–1911 — the tenure that landed him in the T206 set's scarce Southern Leaguer subseries, the reason collectors know his name today. He continued north with Binghamton in 1912 and Elmira in 1913, where he reportedly batted .357. The upstart Federal League gave him his only taste of the majors: in 1914 he was the first player ever sold from one Federal League club to another, moving from the Chicago Whales to the Kansas City Packers, for whom he served mainly as a backup and pinch hitter. Over that single big-league season he hit .253 with 49 hits and one home run. After baseball he worked as a steamship purser in Florida and died in Miami in 1942 at age 56.
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 | 315 | 11 | 15 | 40 | 82 | 49 | 59 | 59 |
| SGC | 231 | 4 | 9 | 21 | 32 | 40 | 40 | 85 |
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 | 156 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 92 |
| Hindu | 16 |
| Unknown back | 51 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 15 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 152 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 64 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Cad Coles card?
The Cad Coles 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 Augusta Tourists player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 3 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 546 examples of the Cad Coles have been graded, with only 15 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Cad Coles come with?
The Cad Coles 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 Cad Coles 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.
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.