1909-11 T206 Neal Ball (Cleveland)
1909–11 T206 Neal Ball
Cleveland Naps · American League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Neal Ball (“Cleveland” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Neal Ball, a member of the historic Cleveland Naps (American League), and was printed in the 460 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 823 examples have been graded, with only 12 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Neal Ball
Neal Ball (born Cornelius Ball Jr., April 22, 1881, Grand Haven, Michigan) was a light-hitting but nimble deadball-era infielder whose name is permanently fixed in the record book. Pursued by Detroit in 1902, he instead signed with Toledo of the American Association and began his pro career as a shortstop in 1903. He reached the majors with the New York Highlanders in 1907, then joined the Cleveland Naps (1909-1912) before finishing with the Boston Red Sox (1912-1913). Over seven American League seasons across those three clubs he batted .250 with 404 hits and 151 stolen bases. On July 19, 1909, at Cleveland's League Park, Ball turned baseball's first unassisted triple play, spearing Amby McConnell's liner, stepping on second to double off Heinie Wagner, and tagging Jake Stahl. His glove and jersey later went to the Hall of Fame. He is one of the T206 set's affordable common subjects.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (11)
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 | 30 | 58 | 125 | 88 | 98 | 82 |
| SGC | 331 | 1 | 6 | 34 | 47 | 86 | 64 | 93 |
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 1911 | 175 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 81 |
| Sweet Caporal | 63 |
| Old Mill | 26 |
| Polar Bear | 22 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 22 |
| Tolstoi | 13 |
| El Principe de Gales | 6 |
| Lenox | 5 |
| Cycle 1911 | 3 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 1 |
| Unknown back | 75 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Cycle 1911 | 1 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 7 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 4 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 17 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 128 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 27 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 17 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 115 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 15 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Neal Ball card?
The Neal Ball (Cleveland) 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 Cleveland Naps player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 823 examples of the Neal Ball have been graded, with only 12 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Neal Ball come with?
The Neal Ball is confirmed with 11 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Uzit. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Neal Ball 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.
Other poses of Neal Ball
More Cleveland Naps 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 2026-07-01.