1909–11 T206 Juan Violat
Jacksonville Jays · South Atlantic League · Southern Leaguer print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Juan Violat is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Juan Violat, a member of the historic Jacksonville Jays (South Atlantic League), and was printed in the Southern Leaguer series, known with 3 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 477 examples have been graded, with only 14 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Juan Violat
Juan Violat Piedra, born April 20, 1883, in Havana, was a Cuban outfielder and one of the true pioneers of Cubans in U.S. professional baseball. He turned pro in 1903 with the Almendares Blues of the Cuban League, then on June 5, 1904, debuted for the Jacksonville Jays of the South Atlantic ("Sally") League alongside fellow Cuban Esteban Prats, believed to be the first time Cuban Leaguers appeared in American minor league ball. A left fielder famed for a throwing arm "second to none" (he once threw 397½ feet in a 1908 contest), Violat starred in the Sally League with Jacksonville (1904-06, 1909) and Augusta (1909-10), later playing for Nashville/Chattanooga in the Southern Association (1911) and the Long Branch Cubans (1913-15). He led the Sally League at .305 in 1910 before a slide fractured his ankle, and hit .349 in 1913 and .420 in 1914. In 1905 he robbed 18-year-old Ty Cobb with a splendid catch. Violat never reached the majors, but his path preceded Almeida and Marsans (1911 Reds); he was inducted into the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953. Later a Havana policeman, he was killed by a stray bullet during strike unrest in 1919. He is a scarce "Southern Leaguer" subject in T206, noted for the misspelled "Viola" name variation.
Sources: Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (3)
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 | 267 | 10 | 15 | 37 | 60 | 41 | 56 | 48 |
| SGC | 210 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 43 | 40 | 73 |
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 | 143 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 53 |
| Hindu | 12 |
| Unknown back | 59 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 10 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 121 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 79 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Juan Violat card?
The Juan Violat 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 Jacksonville Jays player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 3 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 477 examples of the Juan Violat have been graded, with only 14 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Juan Violat come with?
The Juan Violat is confirmed with 3 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Juan Violat 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 Jacksonville Jays 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.