1909-11 T206 James Westlake
1909–11 T206 James Westlake
Danville Red Sox · Virginia State League · Southern Leaguer print series
The 1909–1911 T206 James Westlake is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts James Westlake, a member of the historic Danville Red Sox (Virginia State League), and was printed in the Southern Leaguer series, known with 2 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 597 examples have been graded, with only 10 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About James Westlake
James Arthur Westlake was a journeyman catcher who spent his entire professional career in the minor leagues, never reaching the majors. He broke in with the Paterson Intruders of the Class-C Hudson River League in 1904 and caught for seven different clubs across roughly a decade, from 1904 through 1914. A defense-first backstop, he moved through the Atlantic League (Newark and Brooklyn, 1907, where he also managed one game for Newark) before settling into Southern circuits: the Lynchburg Shoemakers (1908) and the Danville Red Sox of the Virginia League in 1909, the team pictured on this card, for whom he batted just .169. He later caught for the Wilson Tobacconists (Eastern Carolina League, 1910), Spartanburg Spartans (Carolina Association, 1911), Morristown Jobbers (Appalachian League, 1912) and Paterson Silk Citys (1914). Over 343 documented games he hit .227 with 352 hits and a single home run. As a Virginia League "Southern Leaguer," his card belongs to T206's scarcest subgroup, printed only with Old Mill and Piedmont backs and highly prized by collectors today.
Sources: Baseball-Reference
Confirmed backs (2)
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 | 318 | 9 | 25 | 42 | 76 | 52 | 67 | 47 |
| SGC | 279 | 1 | 3 | 36 | 49 | 51 | 57 | 82 |
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 | 137 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 89 |
| Unknown back | 92 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 97 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 182 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 James Westlake card?
The James Westlake 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 Danville Red Sox player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 2 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 597 examples of the James Westlake have been graded, with only 10 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 James Westlake come with?
The James Westlake is confirmed with 2 tobacco-brand backs: Old Mill, Piedmont. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 James Westlake 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 Danville 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.