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
Denton True "Cy" Young signed his first professional contract with Canton of the Tri-State League in 1890, and by late June the Cleveland Spiders had purchased him, launching a 22-year major-league pitching career. The durable right-hander starred for the Spiders (1890-1898), St. Louis (1899-1900), the Boston Americans/Red Sox (1901-1908), the Cleveland Naps (1909-1910, the club shown on his T206 card), and Boston's National League entry in 1911. His records are staggering and unmatched: 511 wins (the most in history), 316 losses, a 2.63 ERA, 749 complete games, and 76 shutouts across more than 7,350 innings. In 1901 he claimed the American League's pitching Triple Crown, leading in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. He threw three no-hitters, including a perfect game on May 5, 1904, the first in AL history, and went 2-1 for Boston in the first modern World Series in 1903. His nickname came from the fences he splintered with his fastball, said to look as if a "cyclone" had struck. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1937, he was so revered that the annual award for baseball's best pitcher was named for him in 1956. A cornerstone Hall-of-Famer, Young is among the most coveted subjects in the T206 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (5)
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 | 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 this T206 card?
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.
Other poses of Cy Young
More Cleveland Naps 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.