Introduction to 1909 Piedmont Baseball Cards

The 1909 Piedmont baseball card set is one of the most coveted issues produced during the early 20th century. Issued by the Piedmont Cigarette Company of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the 1909 Piedmont set featured 36 different cards showing individual players from the National League and American League. While production and distribution numbers for the set are unknown, the 1909 Piedmont cards are extremely rare in high grade today over 100 years later. This makes them highly desirable among dedicated baseball card collectors and investors.

History and Background of the 1909 Piedmont Issue

Piedmont was one of many tobacco companies during the late 19th/early 20th century that issued baseball cards as premiums or incentives to help promote their cigarette and tobacco products. Most sets of this era featured cards measuring approximately 2.5 x 3.5 inches in size, with the player’s photograph taking up about half of the front of the card. The backs usually had some combination of the player’s stats, physical description and biographical details.

The 1909 Piedmont set is considered a landmark among early 20th century tobacco era issues for several reasons. First, it was one of the first cigarette sets to feature players from both major leagues instead of just one. This gave the set much wider appeal among baseball fans. It was also the first Piedmont issue to include color tinting on some of the player photos, adding visual appeal. And it was among the earliest tobacco sets to feature the players organized by team, with cards grouped by National and American League clubs.

Grading and Condition of 1909 Piedmont Cards

As with any vintage collectible over 100 years old, condition is absolutely critical to the value of 1909 Piedmont baseball cards. Even minor flaws can drastically reduce a card’s worth. The set is graded on the traditional 1-10 scale by professional authentication and grading companies like PSA and SGC. Here are the general condition guidelines:

PSA/SGC 1 – Heavily worn with flaws. Valuable mainly for completion.
PSA/SGC 2 – Very poor condition, flaws and damage. Low collector value.
PSA/SGC 3 – Poor, multiple flaws and wear. Modest value to collectors.
PSA/SGC 4 – Below average, clear flaws but original. Has appeal.
PSA/SGC 5 – Average condition, expected wear for age. Respectable value.
PSA/SGC 6 – Above average, light wear, sharp details. Good collector value.
PSA/SGC 7 – Very fine, minimal signs of use, crisp images. Great condition.
PSA/SGC 8 – Extremely fine, exceptionally well-preserved. Highly valuable.
PSA/SGC 9 – Gem mint, flawless in all respects. Extremely rare grade.
PSA/SGC 10 – Pristine mint, as perfect as the day issued. Iconic condition.

1909 Piedmont Baseball Cards Price Guide

Here is a general price guide for 1909 Piedmont baseball cards in different grades:

PSA/SGC 1-3: $100-300 depending on player
PSA/SGC 4: $300-600
PSA/SGC 5: $600-1,000
PSA/SGC 6: $1,000-2,500
PSA/SGC 7: $2,500-5,000
PSA/SGC 8: $5,000-15,000
PSA/SGC 9: $15,000-50,000
PSA/SGC 10: $50,000+ for superstar players

Some key factors that influence a 1909 Piedmont card’s value within the given grade range include:

Player Prominence: Stars command big premiums over lesser known players.
Position: Pitchers and catchers tend to be more valuable than other positions.
Color or Mono Tinting: Cards with original color sell for more.
Team: Rare Cubs, Giants, Pirates have stronger demand.
Scarcity: Cards of players with few surviving copies appreciate fastest.
Eye Appeal: Centering, colors and sharpness impact price.

1909 Piedmont Baseball Cards – Notable Players and Records

Some of the most valuable and desirable individual 1909 Piedmont baseball cards to collectors include:

Ty Cobb, Tigers (PSA 8 sold for $86,250 in 2016)
Honus Wagner, Pirates (PSA 5 sold for $28,800 in 2018)
Walter Johnson, Senators (PSA 7 sold for $18,750 in 2019)
Christy Mathewson, Giants (PSA 6 sold for $15,625 in 2017)
Tris Speaker, Red Sox (PSA 8 sold for $12,500 in 2020)
Cy Young, Red Sox (PSA 6 sold for $10,000 in 2021)

Rare 1909 Piedmont cards in high grades of 8 or above routinely sell at auction for five figures or more. A PSA 10 Honus Wagner would likely shatter existing records and sell for well over $100,000 given the extreme rarity and demand. The 1909 Piedmont set remains one of the most significant and valuable early tobacco issues for dedicated baseball card collectors and investors today. With proper care, these classic cards can retain and potentially increase in value for decades to come.