1909–11 T206 Johnny Kling
Chicago Cubs · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Johnny Kling is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Johnny Kling, a member of the historic Chicago Cubs (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 935 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 Kling
Johnny Kling was the finest defensive catcher of the Deadball Era's first decade. Born in Kansas City in 1875, he worked up through semipro ball, signed with St. Joseph, and debuted for Chicago's National League club in September 1900, batting .294 in 15 games. He became the backbone of the Cubs dynasty, catching from 1900 to 1911 and anchoring the pennant winners of 1906, 1907, and 1908, with back-to-back World Series titles in 1907 and 1908. A brilliant handler of pitchers with a rifle arm, Kling led NL catchers in putouts six times and in fielding percentage twice from 1902 to 1908; in the 1907 World Series he gunned down five of eleven Detroit runners and held Ty Cobb without a stolen base. His best year at bat was 1906, when he hit .312 for the record 116-win Cubs; he finished a .272 career hitter over 13 seasons, later playing for Boston and Cincinnati through 1913. Nicknamed "Noisy" for his constant chatter behind the plate, he also won the 1908 world pocket billiards championship and sat out the entire 1909 season in a famous holdout. A key member of the Cubs' championship battery, Kling is a recognizable subject in the T206 set.
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 | 548 | 15 | 33 | 61 | 130 | 108 | 118 | 83 |
| SGC | 387 | 3 | 6 | 36 | 65 | 88 | 75 | 114 |
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 | 110 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 98 |
| Sweet Caporal | 60 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 55 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 36 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 29 |
| Sovereign | 15 |
| El Principe de Gales | 13 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 11 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 10 |
| Old Mill | 9 |
| Hindu | 8 |
| Unknown back | 94 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 8 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 10 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 5 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 130 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 79 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 20 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 21 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 71 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 43 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Johnny Kling card?
The Johnny Kling 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 Chicago Cubs player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 935 examples of the Johnny Kling 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 Kling come with?
The Johnny Kling 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 Kling 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 Chicago Cubs cards
- George Brown (Chicago)
- Mordecai Brown (Chicago On Shirt)
- Mordecai Brown (Cubs On Shirt)
- Mordecai Brown (Portrait)
- Frank Chance (Batting)
- Frank Chance (Portrait - Red)
- Frank Chance (Portrait - Yellow)
- Johnny Evers (Portrait)
- Johnny Evers (Chicago On Shirt - Yellow Sky)
- Johnny Evers (Cubs On Shirt - Blue Sky)
- Solly Hofman
- Del Howard
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.