1909-11 T206 Joe Kelley
1909–11 T206 Joe Kelley
Toronto Maple Leafs · Eastern League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Joe Kelley is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Joe Kelley, a member of the historic Toronto Maple Leafs (Eastern League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 12 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1398 examples have been graded, with only 21 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Joe Kelley
Born 1871 in Cambridge, Massachusetts (d. 1943), Joe Kelley was a right-handed left fielder and Hall of Famer who batted .317 across a major-league career from 1891 to 1908, starring for the powerhouse Baltimore Orioles of the 1890s; he later played for and managed Toronto in the Eastern League and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971. A star of the great 1890s Baltimore Orioles, he went a perfect 9-for-9 in a doubleheader against the Cleveland Spiders on September 3, 1894.
Confirmed backs (12)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 822 | 16 | 28 | 78 | 181 | 160 | 170 | 189 |
| SGC | 576 | 5 | 7 | 32 | 70 | 134 | 109 | 219 |
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 | 350 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 89 |
| Sweet Caporal | 74 |
| Polar Bear | 49 |
| Old Mill | 40 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 23 |
| El Principe de Gales | 11 |
| Cycle 1910 | 7 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 6 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 6 |
| Tolstoi | 3 |
| Carolina Brights | 1 |
| Unknown back | 163 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 9 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| Drum 1910 | 1 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 13 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 19 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 312 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 52 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 22 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 137 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 2 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Joe Kelley card?
The Joe Kelley 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 Toronto Maple Leafs player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 12 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1398 examples of the Joe Kelley have been graded, with only 21 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Joe Kelley come with?
The Joe Kelley is confirmed with 12 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Joe Kelley 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.