1909–11 T206 Mike Powers
Philadelphia Athletics · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Mike Powers is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Mike Powers, a member of the historic Philadelphia Athletics (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 826 examples have been graded, with only 17 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Mike Powers
Michael Riley "Doc" Powers (1870-1909) was a light-hitting but defensively gifted catcher who anchored Connie Mack's early Philadelphia Athletics. An educated man who played college ball at Holy Cross and Notre Dame and later earned a medical degree, Powers signed with the Louisville Colonels in 1898 and also saw time with Washington and Indianapolis before joining the Athletics in 1901. Over roughly a decade in the majors he batted around .216 with little power, but he was prized for a strong arm and his skill handling pitchers, serving as the personal catcher for Hall of Fame left-hander Eddie Plank and catching most of Plank's early starts. He helped Philadelphia to the 1905 American League pennant and appeared in that year's World Series. His nickname "Doc" came from his medical studies; teammates also called him "Red Cross Mike." Powers is remembered for a tragic distinction: injured chasing a foul pop in the first game at Shibe Park in April 1909, he died two weeks later of intestinal complications, becoming widely regarded as the first major leaguer to die from an on-field injury. He is a recognized T206 subject as an early A's regular.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (4)
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 | 492 | 11 | 31 | 67 | 112 | 77 | 99 | 95 |
| SGC | 334 | 6 | 8 | 38 | 59 | 68 | 57 | 98 |
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 1909 | 228 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 81 |
| Sweet Caporal | 54 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 16 |
| Hindu | 13 |
| Unknown back | 100 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 14 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 180 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 16 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 121 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 3 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Mike Powers card?
The Mike Powers 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 Philadelphia Athletics player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 826 examples of the Mike Powers have been graded, with only 17 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Mike Powers come with?
The Mike Powers is confirmed with 4 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Mike Powers 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 Philadelphia Athletics 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.