1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson (White Cap)
1909–11 T206 Christy Mathewson
New York Giants · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Christy Mathewson (“White Cap” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Christy Mathewson, a member of the historic New York Giants (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1670 examples have been graded, with only 30 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Christy Mathewson
Born 1880 in Factoryville, PA (d. 1925), Christy Mathewson was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1900 and played 17 major-league seasons. He went 373-188 with a 2.13 ERA and 2,502 strikeouts across 635 appearances. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 987 | 27 | 40 | 63 | 177 | 174 | 225 | 281 |
| SGC | 683 | 3 | 10 | 36 | 63 | 125 | 134 | 312 |
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 1909 | 227 |
| Piedmont | 169 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 136 |
| Sweet Caporal | 102 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 38 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 35 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 26 |
| Hindu | 13 |
| Old Mill | 11 |
| Unknown back | 230 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 8 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 3 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 355 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 46 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 21 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 188 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 4 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 58 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson card?
The Christy Mathewson (White Cap) 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 Giants player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1670 examples of the Christy Mathewson have been graded, with only 30 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Christy Mathewson come with?
The Christy Mathewson is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Christy Mathewson 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.