1909-11 T206 Bill Cranston
1909–11 T206 Bill Cranston
Memphis Turtles · Southern Association · Southern Leaguer print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Bill Cranston is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bill Cranston, a member of the historic Memphis Turtles (Southern Association), and was printed in the Southern Leaguer series, known with 3 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 481 examples have been graded, with only 9 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bill Cranston
Bill Cranston (William Cranston, born August 1, 1879, in Avoca, Pennsylvania; died March 13, 1970) was a slick-fielding infielder who spent his entire professional career in the minor leagues. A second baseman who also played shortstop, he broke in around 1901 and bounced through a dozen clubs over roughly fifteen seasons (through 1916), including the Wilmington Giants, Erie Sailors, Syracuse Stars, Kansas City Blues, and Denver Grizzlies. He is pictured in the T206 set with the Memphis Turtles, having played for Memphis in the Southern Association in 1908 (as the Egyptians) and 1909. Over 1,189 documented games he batted .277 with 6 home runs; his standout year came in 1910 with Denver of the Western League, where he hit .335 with 160 hits. Cranston never reached the major leagues. His card belongs to T206's "Southern Leaguers" subgroup, which was printed only briefly and is considered scarcer than the set's National and American League subjects.
Sources: Baseball-Reference
Confirmed backs (3)
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 | 262 | 7 | 9 | 33 | 43 | 61 | 53 | 56 |
| SGC | 219 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 37 | 39 | 33 | 81 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Old Mill | 123 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 116 |
| Hindu | 23 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 12 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 115 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 92 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bill Cranston card?
The Bill Cranston 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 Memphis Turtles player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 3 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 481 examples of the Bill Cranston have been graded, with only 9 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Bill Cranston come with?
The Bill Cranston is confirmed with 3 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Bill Cranston 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 Memphis Turtles 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 2026-08-28.