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
Reuben Noshier "Rube" Oldring (1884-1961) was a fleet, popular outfielder on Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics dynasty of the Deadball Era. Born in New York City, he played semipro ball around Hoboken before a stint at Montgomery in the Southern Association, where Mack acquired his contract; after a brief 1905 look with the New York Highlanders he joined the A's, his home for a dozen seasons (1905-1916). Tried at the infield corners and short, he settled into center field in 1907 and later left. His finest year was 1910, when he hit .308 and ranked among the American League's top ten in average, slugging, hits, doubles, and triples; in 1913 he scored 101 runs and stole 40 bases. A fast, intelligent baserunner and skilled bunter, Oldring helped Philadelphia to pennants in 1910, 1911, 1913, and 1914 and World Series titles in 1910, 1911, and 1913. He called his three-run homer off Rube Marquard in Game Five of the 1911 World Series his biggest thrill. Named Philadelphia's most popular player in 1913 (and given a Cadillac), the nickname "Rube," an era tag for a country ballplayer, stuck for life. He is not in the Hall of Fame.
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 | 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 this T206 card?
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.
Other poses of Rube Oldring
More Philadelphia Athletics 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.