1909–11 T206 Rube Manning
New York Highlanders · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Rube Manning (“Batting” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Rube Manning, 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 950 examples have been graded, with only 36 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Rube Manning
Walter S. "Rube" Manning (April 29, 1883 – April 23, 1930) was a right-handed pitcher from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, who reached the majors after breaking into pro ball in 1906 with the Williamsport Millionaires of the Tri-State League. Purchased by the New York Highlanders (the future Yankees), he spent his entire big-league career in New York from 1907 through 1910. He debuted strongly, going 13–16 with a sharp 2.45 ERA as a rookie in 1907, but never enjoyed a winning season with the perennially second-division Highlanders and finished with a career mark of 22–32, a 3.14 ERA, and 212 strikeouts. After leaving the majors he pitched on in the minors through 1917 for clubs including Reading, Allentown, Atlantic City, Toronto, and Wilkes-Barre. Like many deadball-era players from rural backgrounds, he carried the common nickname "Rube," though its specific origin is not documented. A journeyman pitcher rather than a star, Manning is a genuine, more affordable subject in the celebrated T206 White Border set, appearing in both batting and pitching poses.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 572 | 25 | 36 | 84 | 131 | 107 | 104 | 85 |
| SGC | 378 | 11 | 5 | 40 | 59 | 94 | 65 | 104 |
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 | 104 |
| Piedmont | 100 |
| Sweet Caporal | 76 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 59 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 50 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 26 |
| Sovereign | 16 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 11 |
| Old Mill | 10 |
| Hindu | 8 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 7 |
| Unknown back | 105 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 9 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 11 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 148 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 61 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 12 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 11 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 96 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 4 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 26 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Rube Manning card?
The Rube Manning (Batting) 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 tobacco packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 950 examples of the Rube Manning have been graded, with only 36 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Rube Manning come with?
The Rube Manning is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Rube Manning 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 Rube Manning
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.