1909–11 T206 Neal Ball
New York Highlanders · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Neal Ball (“New York” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Neal Ball, a member of the historic New York Highlanders (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 748 examples have been graded, with only 24 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 (5)
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 | 456 | 22 | 24 | 54 | 113 | 102 | 87 | 54 |
| SGC | 292 | 2 | 4 | 42 | 40 | 65 | 58 | 81 |
NM 7+ bundles grades 7–10; 1 & Auth bundles grade 1, 1.5 & Authentic. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are subject-level (summed across all backs). Population as of 2026-06.
PSA by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1909 | 110 |
| Piedmont | 90 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 61 |
| Sweet Caporal | 58 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 20 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 17 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 14 |
| El Principe de Gales | 10 |
| Old Mill | 3 |
| Unknown back | 73 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 5 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 155 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 41 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 7 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 59 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 24 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Neal Ball card?
The Neal Ball (New York) 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 New York Highlanders player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 748 examples of the Neal Ball have been graded, with only 24 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 5 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. 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 New York Highlanders 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 2026-10-05.