1909-11 T206 Simon Nicholls (Hands On Knees)
1909–11 T206 Simon Nicholls
Philadelphia Athletics · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Simon Nicholls (“Hands On Knees” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Simon Nicholls, a member of the historic Philadelphia Athletics (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 878 examples have been graded, with only 19 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Simon Nicholls
Simon Burdette Nicholls, born in 1882 in Boyds, Maryland, became the first Maryland Agricultural College (now the University of Maryland) graduate to reach the majors. A shortstop, he debuted with the Detroit Tigers in 1903, then after semipro and Southern Association ball with Memphis was purchased by Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics for $2,500 in 1906. His finest season came in 1907, when he hit .302 in 126 games and finished fifth in the American League batting race, behind Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, George Stone, and Elmer Flick and just ahead of Nap Lajoie, part of a stretch that included a 20-game hitting streak at .413. He served as Philadelphia's regular shortstop in 1907-08 and, on April 12, 1909, recorded the first base hit and first run in the history of the A's new Shibe Park. Dealt to Cleveland after 1909, he finished a .251 career hitter (284 hits, 312 games). A gentleman farmer, Nicholls died tragically of typhoid fever complications in March 1911 at age 28, only hours after his son's birth.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (4)
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 | 534 | 17 | 26 | 43 | 133 | 89 | 136 | 90 |
| SGC | 344 | 2 | 4 | 42 | 49 | 72 | 69 | 106 |
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 1909 | 105 |
| Piedmont | 84 |
| Sweet Caporal | 63 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 61 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 50 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 37 |
| Old Mill | 15 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Sovereign | 9 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 8 |
| Unknown back | 93 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 10 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 150 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 40 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 16 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 18 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 71 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 36 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 2 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Simon Nicholls card?
The Simon Nicholls (Hands On Knees) 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 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 878 examples of the Simon Nicholls have been graded, with only 19 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Simon Nicholls come with?
The Simon Nicholls is confirmed with 4 tobacco-brand backs: Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Simon Nicholls 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 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.