1909–11 T206 Johnny Bates
Boston Doves · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Johnny Bates is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Johnny Bates, a member of the historic Boston Doves (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 914 examples have been graded, with only 18 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Johnny Bates
Johnny Bates was a durable dead-ball outfielder whose T206 card places him with the Boston Doves. A Steubenville, Ohio native, he signed with Altoona of the Tri-State League in 1905 and reached the majors after Beaneaters catcher Tom Needham recommended him to Boston. Bates made a memorable debut on April 12, 1906, homering off Harry McIntire in his first big-league game. Playing mostly left and center field, he suited up for Boston (1906-09), the Philadelphia Phillies (1909-10), the Cincinnati Reds (1911-13/14), and briefly the Chicago Cubs (1914) before jumping to the Federal League's Baltimore Terrapins. Never a star but always dependable, Bates was prized as one of the National League's best bunters, with excellent plate discipline; he drew 103 walks in 1911 (second in the NL) and posted a career-best .305 average in 1910. He hit for the cycle against Brooklyn on April 26, 1907. Over nine seasons he batted .278 with 1,087 hits, 25 home runs, and 187 stolen bases. Not a Hall of Famer, Bates is one of the T206 set's common National League subjects.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (6)
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 | 529 | 15 | 37 | 59 | 122 | 107 | 106 | 83 |
| SGC | 385 | 3 | 8 | 36 | 52 | 97 | 66 | 123 |
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 | 108 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 99 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 74 |
| Sweet Caporal | 68 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 21 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 21 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 20 |
| Old Mill | 8 |
| Hindu | 7 |
| El Principe de Gales | 6 |
| Unknown back | 97 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 5 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 9 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 4 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 179 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 40 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 14 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 102 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 31 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Johnny Bates card?
The Johnny Bates 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 Doves player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 914 examples of the Johnny Bates have been graded, with only 18 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Johnny Bates come with?
The Johnny Bates is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Johnny Bates 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 Doves 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.