1909-11 T206 Simon Nichols (Batting)
1909–11 T206 Simon Nichols
Philadelphia Athletics · American League · 350-460 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Simon Nichols (“Batting” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Simon Nichols, a member of the historic Philadelphia Athletics (American League), and was printed in the 350-460 series, known with 9 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 635 examples have been graded, with only 6 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Simon Nichols
Born 1882 in Germantown, Maryland (d. 1911), Simon Nicholls (whose surname the card misspells as "Nichols") was a left-handed-hitting, right-handed-throwing infielder who played six major-league seasons for the Detroit Tigers (1903), Philadelphia Athletics (1906-09), and Cleveland Naps (1910); the first University of Maryland (then Maryland Agricultural College) graduate to reach the majors, he recorded the first hit and run scored at Shibe Park in 1909 and died of typhoid-fever complications in 1911.
Confirmed backs (9)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 378 | 6 | 23 | 56 | 92 | 83 | 78 | 40 |
| SGC | 257 | 0 | 7 | 25 | 51 | 72 | 39 | 63 |
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 | 108 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 79 |
| Sweet Caporal | 43 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 16 |
| El Principe de Gales | 16 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 15 |
| Old Mill | 12 |
| Tolstoi | 10 |
| Polar Bear | 9 |
| Drum | 1 |
| Unknown back | 69 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 12 |
| Drum 1910 | 2 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 7 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 6 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 94 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 13 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 12 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 101 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 10 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Simon Nichols card?
The Simon Nichols (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 9 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 635 examples of the Simon Nichols have been graded, with only 6 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Simon Nichols come with?
The Simon Nichols is confirmed with 9 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Simon Nichols 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.