1909-11 T206 Art Kruger
1909–11 T206 Art Kruger
Columbus Senators · American Association · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Art Kruger is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Art Kruger, a member of the historic Columbus Senators (American Association), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 10 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 970 examples have been graded, with only 15 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Art Kruger
Arthur Theodore Kruger (March 16, 1881, San Antonio, Texas – November 28, 1949, Hondo, California) was a right-handed-hitting outfielder whose T206 card, captioned "Krueger," shows him with the Columbus Senators of the American Association. A product of the Pacific Coast League, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds off the Oakland Oaks in November 1905 and reached the majors on April 11, 1907, batting .233 in 100 games as a rookie. Cincinnati dealt him to Columbus in late 1907, and he starred there in 1908–1909 — the very window in which the T206 "350 Only" series was issued — until an August 15, 1909 trade sent him to the Cleveland Naps. He hit just .170 for Cleveland in 1910, appeared in one game for the Boston Doves, then returned to the PCL. Kruger resurfaced in the Federal League with the Kansas City Packers (1914–1915), enjoying his best big-league year in 1914 (.259, 114 hits, 47 RBI) and hitting a rare pinch-hit grand slam on June 23. Over four scattered MLB seasons he batted .232 with 283 hits, 6 home runs, 115 RBI, and 38 stolen bases. Often confused with contemporary Art "Otto" Krueger, he remained a career journeyman rather than a star, and his Columbus card is a common, non-Hall-of-Fame subject in the famous set.
Sources: Baseball-Reference
Confirmed backs (10)
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 | 573 | 14 | 28 | 74 | 144 | 111 | 126 | 76 |
| SGC | 397 | 1 | 4 | 51 | 65 | 95 | 70 | 111 |
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 | 242 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 69 |
| Sweet Caporal | 57 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 35 |
| Polar Bear | 28 |
| Old Mill | 27 |
| Cycle 1910 | 10 |
| El Principe de Gales | 8 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 4 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 4 |
| Carolina Brights | 2 |
| Unknown back | 87 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 4 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 4 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 2 |
| Cycle 1910 | 4 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 10 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 19 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 171 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 34 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 46 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 102 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Art Kruger card?
The Art Kruger 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 Columbus Senators player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 10 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 970 examples of the Art Kruger have been graded, with only 15 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Art Kruger come with?
The Art Kruger is confirmed with 10 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Art Kruger 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 Columbus Senators 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.