1909-11 T206 Harry Niles
1909–11 T206 Harry Niles
Boston Red Sox · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Harry Niles is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Harry Niles, a member of the historic Boston Red Sox (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 845 examples have been graded, with only 25 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Harry Niles
Harry Niles (born Herbert Clyde Niles, September 10, 1880, in Buchanan, Michigan) signed his first pro contract in 1902 and broke in with Binghamton of the New York State League in 1903. After leading the Southern Association in hitting at .335 for Birmingham in 1906, the speedy, versatile infielder-outfielder reached the majors, playing five American League seasons (1906-1910) for four clubs: the St. Louis Browns, New York Highlanders, Boston Red Sox (then the Americans, his T206 team), and Cleveland Naps. A right fielder, third baseman, and second baseman, he stole a career-high 30 bases as a rookie in 1906 and hit .289 in 1907. He briefly earned the nickname "Home Run Harry" for hitting homers in back-to-back games in May 1908, though he managed just 12 for his career. That same year he was the lone baserunner in Cy Young's near-perfect no-hitter, drawing a walk before being caught stealing. He finished with a .247 average and 561 hits, later barnstorming with Babe Ruth in 1929. Niles died in 1953.
Sources: Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (4)
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 | 535 | 19 | 27 | 68 | 129 | 86 | 114 | 92 |
| SGC | 310 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 47 | 71 | 68 | 88 |
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 1909 | 125 |
| Piedmont | 111 |
| Sweet Caporal | 57 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 56 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 27 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 25 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 14 |
| Sovereign | 10 |
| Old Mill | 9 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 7 |
| Unknown back | 94 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 3 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 121 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 55 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 10 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 11 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 79 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 31 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Harry Niles card?
The Harry Niles 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 Boston Red Sox player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 845 examples of the Harry Niles have been graded, with only 25 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Harry Niles come with?
The Harry Niles is confirmed with 4 tobacco-brand backs: Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Harry Niles 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 Boston Red Sox 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.