1909-11 T206 Cy Young (Bare Hand)
1909–11 T206 Cy Young
Cleveland Naps · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Cy Young (“Bare Hand” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Cy Young, a member of the historic Cleveland Naps (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1646 examples have been graded, with only 27 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Cy Young
Born 1867 in Gilmore, OH (d. 1955), Cy Young was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1890 and played 22 major-league seasons. He went 511-316 with a 2.63 ERA and 2,803 strikeouts across 906 appearances. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 844 | 21 | 24 | 48 | 144 | 165 | 206 | 236 |
| SGC | 802 | 6 | 9 | 40 | 86 | 160 | 146 | 355 |
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 | 233 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 103 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 81 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 59 |
| Sovereign | 29 |
| El Principe de Gales | 22 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 20 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| Old Mill | 11 |
| Unknown back | 270 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 15 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 3 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 364 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 114 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 29 |
| Sovereign 1909-11 | 2 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 22 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 157 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 12 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 84 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Cy Young card?
The Cy Young (Bare Hand) 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 Cleveland Naps player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1646 examples of the Cy Young 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 Cy Young come with?
The Cy Young is confirmed with 5 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Cy Young 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.