1909-11 T206 Birdie Cree
1909–11 T206 Birdie Cree
New York Highlanders · American League · 350 Only print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Birdie Cree is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Birdie Cree, a member of the historic New York Highlanders (American League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 10 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 948 examples have been graded, with only 26 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Birdie Cree
William Franklin "Birdie" Cree was a diminutive (5'6") but explosive dead-ball outfielder who spent his entire eight-year major-league career with the New York Highlanders/Yankees (1908-1915). Discovered at Penn State, he starred in Williamsport's Tri-State League before Connie Mack sold his rights to New York, where he debuted in September 1908. Cree's peak came in 1911, when he hit .348 with 22 triples (then a franchise record), 48 stolen bases, 73 RBIs, and led the American League in slugging (.513) and total bases (267) — one of the finest offensive seasons in early Yankees history. A career .292 hitter, his production was later sapped by injuries, including a beaning by Walter Johnson and a wrist broken by a pitch in 1912. His nickname dated to a Penn State game in which he hit for the cycle, prompting a classmate to shout "he's a bird!" A "350 Only" subject in the T206 set, Cree retired to banking in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, and died in 1942.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
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 | 585 | 19 | 41 | 71 | 148 | 109 | 123 | 74 |
| SGC | 363 | 7 | 9 | 47 | 62 | 95 | 54 | 89 |
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 | 271 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 82 |
| Sweet Caporal | 60 |
| Old Mill | 34 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 13 |
| El Principe de Gales | 9 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 8 |
| Carolina Brights | 7 |
| Cycle 1910 | 4 |
| Tolstoi | 3 |
| Unknown back | 94 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 6 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 3 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 9 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 21 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 187 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 115 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Birdie Cree card?
The Birdie Cree 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 New York Highlanders player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 10 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 948 examples of the Birdie Cree have been graded, with only 26 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Birdie Cree come with?
The Birdie Cree is confirmed with 10 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Birdie Cree 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 New York Highlanders 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.