1909-11 T206 Doc Adkins
1909–11 T206 Doc Adkins
Baltimore Orioles · Eastern League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Doc Adkins is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Doc Adkins, a member of the historic Baltimore Orioles (Eastern League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 7 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 808 examples have been graded, with only 3 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Doc Adkins
Merle Theron Adkins, born in 1872 in Troy, Wisconsin, was a right-handed pitcher who starred in Beloit College before Boston Americans owner Henry Killilea signed him in 1902. His major-league career was fleeting: he made four appearances for Boston in 1902 and two for the New York Highlanders in 1903, finishing 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA. Adkins found his true home in the high minors, pitching roughly nine seasons for the Eastern League (later International League) Baltimore Orioles and winning about 132 games for that club, including a superb 29-12 mark in 1908 and 20-plus-win seasons in 1907 (20-11) and 1909 (21-19). He earned the nickname "Doc" while studying medicine at Johns Hopkins, graduating in 1907 and practicing in Durham, North Carolina. He is also credited with helping discover pitcher Ernie Shore for Jack Dunn's Orioles. On the T206 set he is one of the obscure minor-league Baltimore subjects, and was never inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (7)
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 | 472 | 3 | 14 | 46 | 109 | 95 | 103 | 102 |
| SGC | 336 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 47 | 87 | 74 | 105 |
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 | 262 |
| Polar Bear | 47 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 42 |
| Sweet Caporal | 33 |
| Cycle 1910 | 15 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 8 |
| Drum | 2 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Unknown back | 61 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 7 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Cycle 1910 | 15 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 199 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 42 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 72 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Doc Adkins card?
The Doc Adkins 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 Baltimore Orioles player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 7 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 808 examples of the Doc Adkins have been graded, with only 3 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Doc Adkins come with?
The Doc Adkins is confirmed with 7 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Doc Adkins 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 Baltimore Orioles 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.