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
Born 1881 in Grand Haven, MI (d. 1957), Neal Ball was a right-handed shortstop who debuted in 1907 and played 7 major-league seasons. He batted .251 with 404 hits, 4 home runs, and 92 stolen bases in 501 games.
Confirmed backs (11)
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 the T206
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.