1909-11 T206 Clark Griffith (Batting)
1909–11 T206 Clark Griffith
Cincinnati Reds · National League · 350-460 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Clark Griffith (“Batting” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Clark Griffith, a member of the historic Cincinnati Reds (National League), and was printed in the 350-460 series, known with 13 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1508 examples have been graded, with only 27 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Clark Griffith
Clark Calvin Griffith pitched for pay at 17 in Hoopeston, Illinois (1887) and worked through the minors before joining Cap Anson's Chicago National League club in September 1893. A crafty right-hander who won with control, breaking balls, changes of speed and psychological needling rather than velocity, he reeled off six straight 20-win seasons for Chicago (roughly 152 wins there through 1900). In 1900-01 he was a central figure in launching the American League, recruiting National League stars to the new circuit; as player-manager he then won a league-high 24 games and piloted the 1901 Chicago White Sox to the AL's first pennant. He later pitched for and managed the New York Highlanders and, in the T206 era, managed the Cincinnati Reds (1909-1911), the team shown on this card. His pitching totals: 237-146, 3.31 ERA, 955 strikeouts. Nicknamed "The Old Fox" for his guile and deception on the mound, Griffith went on to own the Washington Senators, winning the 1924 World Series and 1925 pennant. He is the only man to spend at least 20 years each as player, manager and owner, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1946. As a Hall of Famer, he is one of the T206 set's notable subjects.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (13)
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 | 862 | 26 | 36 | 77 | 200 | 167 | 184 | 172 |
| SGC | 646 | 1 | 6 | 54 | 93 | 142 | 135 | 215 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Sweet Caporal | 103 |
| Polar Bear | 96 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 87 |
| Piedmont | 82 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 72 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 67 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 40 |
| Old Mill | 27 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 20 |
| Tolstoi | 19 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| El Principe de Gales | 12 |
| Cycle 1911 | 8 |
| Hindu | 6 |
| Drum | 4 |
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 2 |
| Lenox | 2 |
| Unknown back | 199 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 17 |
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 1 |
| Cycle 1911 | 6 |
| Drum 1910 | 2 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 12 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 1 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 2 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 39 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 109 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 69 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 100 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 23 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 2 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 157 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 90 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 16 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Clark Griffith card?
The Clark Griffith (Batting) 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 Cincinnati Reds player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 13 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1508 examples of the Clark Griffith have been graded, with only 27 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Clark Griffith come with?
The Clark Griffith is confirmed with 13 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Clark Griffith 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.
Other poses of Clark Griffith
More Cincinnati Reds 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.