1909-11 T206 Sid Smith
1909–11 T206 Sid Smith
Atlanta Crackers · Southern Association · Southern Leaguer print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Sid Smith is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Sid Smith, a member of the historic Atlanta Crackers (Southern Association), and was printed in the Southern Leaguer series, known with 3 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 523 examples have been graded, with only 11 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Sid Smith
Sydney A. Smith, listed on his T206 card as "Sid Smith" of the Atlanta Crackers, was a Southern League catcher who reached the majors during the deadball era. Born August 31, 1883, in Smithville, South Carolina, he played college ball at the University of South Carolina before turning pro in 1904 with the Charleston Sea Gulls of the Class C South Atlantic League. Primarily a catcher who was also used as a utility infielder, Smith spent much of his career in the Southern Association with the Atlanta Crackers, playing for them intermittently from 1906 to 1915. He led the league with a .326 average in 1906 and was credited by manager Billy Smith as a key figure in Atlanta's 1909 pennant; in 1913 that same manager called him "the best all-round player that ever pastimed in the Southern league." In the majors he appeared in 146 games over five seasons — with the Philadelphia Athletics and St. Louis Browns (1908), Cleveland Naps (1910-1911), and Pittsburgh Pirates (1914-1915) — batting .247, while compiling a .284 average across roughly 1,544 minor-league games. He debuted April 17, 1908, and played his final big-league game April 18, 1915. Smith died June 5, 1961, in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and was inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 1962. As a T206 "Southern Leaguer," his card is part of the set's regional minor-league subset.
Sources: Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (3)
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 | 314 | 7 | 11 | 53 | 78 | 49 | 64 | 52 |
| SGC | 209 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 34 | 44 | 32 | 80 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Old Mill | 158 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 91 |
| Hindu | 15 |
| Unknown back | 50 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 6 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 133 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 70 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Sid Smith card?
The Sid Smith 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 Atlanta Crackers player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 3 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 523 examples of the Sid Smith have been graded, with only 11 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Sid Smith come with?
The Sid Smith is confirmed with 3 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Sid Smith 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 Atlanta Crackers 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.