1909-11 T206 Sam Strang
1909–11 T206 Sam Strang
Baltimore Orioles · Eastern League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Sam Strang is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Sam Strang, a member of the historic Baltimore Orioles (Eastern League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 10 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1029 examples have been graded, with only 25 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Sam Strang
Born Samuel Strang Nicklin (December 16, 1876) into a prominent Chattanooga, Tennessee family, the versatile switch-hitter reached the majors with Louisville in 1896 and, after stints with the Chicago Orphans (1900), Chicago White Sox (1902), and Brooklyn Superbas (1903-04), enjoyed his best years under John McGraw's New York Giants. A utility man at second, third, short, and the outfield, "Sammy Strang" was prized for his speed and batting eye: he stole 46 bases in 1903 and in 1906 hit .319 with a .423 on-base percentage that led the majors. McGraw made him one of baseball's first specialized pinch-hitters, prompting Grantland Rice to call him "the first of the real pinch hitters." He appeared in the 1905 World Series for the champion Giants. Early in his career he used pseudonyms like "Sam Strang" to shield his upper-class family, the name the T206 set preserves. Traded to the Baltimore Orioles of the Eastern League in June 1908, he stole 36 bases for their 1908 pennant winners, the minor-league team pictured on this card. He later coached Army baseball at West Point (1909-1917) to a .711 record.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (10)
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 | 606 | 23 | 37 | 78 | 126 | 125 | 118 | 99 |
| SGC | 423 | 2 | 8 | 41 | 77 | 104 | 74 | 117 |
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 1910 | 305 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 63 |
| Sweet Caporal | 48 |
| Polar Bear | 27 |
| Cycle 1910 | 19 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 12 |
| Tolstoi | 10 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 9 |
| Carolina Brights | 8 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 5 |
| Drum | 1 |
| Unknown back | 99 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 8 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 5 |
| Cycle 1910 | 11 |
| Drum 1910 | 2 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 261 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 19 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 15 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 90 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 12 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Sam Strang card?
The Sam Strang 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 Baltimore Orioles player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 10 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1029 examples of the Sam Strang have been graded, with only 25 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Sam Strang come with?
The Sam Strang is confirmed with 10 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Sam Strang 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.
More Baltimore Orioles 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 2026-08-28.