1909–11 T206 George Manion
Columbia Gamecocks · South Atlantic League · Southern Leaguer print series
The 1909–1911 T206 George Manion is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts George Manion, a member of the historic Columbia Gamecocks (South Atlantic League), and was printed in the Southern Leaguer series, known with 3 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 536 examples have been graded, with only 9 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About George Manion
George Manion was a minor-league ballplayer, born August 8, 1882 in Waterford, New York, who reached the T206 set as one of its comparatively obscure Southern League subjects rather than as a major-league star. He appears on the Columbia (South Carolina) rosters of the South Atlantic League — the Class C circuit collectors know as the "Sally" League — in 1908 and 1909, playing for a Columbia club that finished last in 1909 at 41-78. Baseball-Reference carries Manion only in its minor-league register (id manion001geo); there is no record of him ever appearing in a major-league game, and his detailed batting record has not been well documented. His card is prized less for his playing feats than for its rarity: the T206 Southern Leaguers were a small, regional printing, and Manion (card #299, a portrait) turns up with Piedmont, Old Mill, and the notably scarce brown Hindu backs, making him a genuinely tough card within "The Monster."
Sources: Baseball-Reference
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 | 314 | 7 | 20 | 33 | 69 | 67 | 63 | 55 |
| SGC | 222 | 2 | 7 | 24 | 27 | 45 | 37 | 80 |
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 | 138 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 105 |
| Hindu | 10 |
| Cycle | 1 |
| Unknown back | 60 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 20 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 124 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 78 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 George Manion card?
The George Manion 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 Columbia Gamecocks player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 3 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 536 examples of the George Manion have been graded, with only 9 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 George Manion come with?
The George Manion 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 George Manion 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 Columbia Gamecocks 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.