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
Simon Nicholls (spelled "Nichols" on the card) was a college-educated infielder from Maryland who became the first graduate of Maryland Agricultural College — forerunner of the University of Maryland — to reach the majors. Recruited off his college shortstop role, he debuted with the Detroit Tigers in September 1903, then found his home with Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics from 1906 to 1909, serving as the club's primary shortstop in 1907 and 1908 and also filling in at second and third base. His finest season came in 1907, when he batted .302 in 126 games — fifth-best in the American League — including a 20-game hitting streak during which he hit around .413. On April 12, 1909, he recorded the first base hit in the history of Shibe Park and scored its first run. A brief stint with the Cleveland Naps in 1910 closed out a big-league line of a .251 average (284-for-1,133) over 312 games in six seasons; he then captained the Baltimore Orioles of the Eastern League. Known as a devoted family man and gentleman farmer rather than for any colorful diamond nickname, Nicholls died tragically young of typhoid fever in March 1911, before the season began; the champion Athletics staged a "Simon Nicholls Day" benefit exhibition that raised funds for his widow and children. He is one of the set's many obscure but genuine deadball-era subjects and is not a Hall of Famer.
Confirmed backs (9)
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 | 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 this T206 card?
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.
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.