1909-11 T206 Rube Oldring (Batting)
1909–11 T206 Rube Oldring
Philadelphia Athletics · American League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Rube Oldring (“Batting” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Rube Oldring, a member of the historic Philadelphia Athletics (American League), and was printed in the 460 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 859 examples have been graded, with only 18 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Rube Oldring
Born 1884 in New York, NY (d. 1961), Rube Oldring was a right-handed outfielder who debuted in 1905 and played 13 major-league seasons. He batted .270 with 1,268 hits, 27 home runs, and 197 stolen bases in 1,239 games.
Confirmed backs (11)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 541 | 16 | 34 | 61 | 133 | 102 | 121 | 74 |
| SGC | 318 | 2 | 5 | 48 | 58 | 64 | 63 | 78 |
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 | 201 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 97 |
| Sweet Caporal | 60 |
| Polar Bear | 23 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 19 |
| Old Mill | 14 |
| Tolstoi | 12 |
| El Principe de Gales | 10 |
| Lenox | 7 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 4 |
| Cycle 1911 | 3 |
| Uzit | 1 |
| Unknown back | 90 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1911 | 2 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 9 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 7 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 12 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 139 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 15 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 15 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 99 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 20 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Rube Oldring card?
The Rube Oldring (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 Philadelphia Athletics player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 859 examples of the Rube Oldring have been graded, with only 18 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Rube Oldring come with?
The Rube Oldring 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 Rube Oldring 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.