1909-11 T206 Danny Murphy (Batting)
1909–11 T206 Danny Murphy
Philadelphia Athletics · American League · 350-460 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Danny Murphy (“Batting” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Danny Murphy, a member of the historic Philadelphia Athletics (American League), and was printed in the 350-460 series, known with 13 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1126 examples have been graded, with only 26 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Danny Murphy
Daniel Francis Murphy (1876-1955), a Philadelphia native, broke into pro ball with Fall River of the New England League in 1897 and reached the majors with the New York Giants in 1900. In 1902 Connie Mack brought him to the Philadelphia Athletics, where he became a fixture for a dozen seasons. Murphy announced himself with one of the great debuts in club history: on July 8, 1902, he went 6-for-6, including an inside-the-park home run off Cy Young. A right-handed hitter with unusual power for his 5'7" frame, he ranked among the American League home-run leaders six times between 1904 and 1911 and hit for the cycle on August 25, 1910. He began as a second baseman but shifted to right field around 1908-1910 to open second for young Eddie Collins, and led AL outfielders in assists in 1911. Nicknamed "Old Reliable" for his steady, dependable play into his mid-30s, Murphy batted .289 with 1,563 hits, 44 homers, and 193 steals over 16 years. He starred on Mack's pennant winners of 1905, 1910, 1911, and 1913, won three World Series titles, and served as acting captain in 1913 after a broken kneecap. He later jumped to the Federal League's Brooklyn Tip-Tops (1914-1915). Not a Hall of Famer, Murphy is a popular A's-dynasty subject among T206 collectors.
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 | 652 | 17 | 44 | 99 | 152 | 141 | 119 | 80 |
| SGC | 474 | 9 | 13 | 63 | 100 | 96 | 86 | 107 |
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 | 82 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 77 |
| Polar Bear | 75 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 63 |
| Piedmont | 59 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 50 |
| Old Mill | 33 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 30 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| El Principe de Gales | 15 |
| Tolstoi | 13 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 10 |
| Cycle 1911 | 8 |
| Lenox | 4 |
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 3 |
| Hindu | 1 |
| Drum | 1 |
| Unknown back | 112 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 14 |
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 6 |
| Cycle 1911 | 9 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 13 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 2 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 28 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 92 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 50 |
| Polar Bear 1909 | 2 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 60 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 15 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 104 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 55 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 23 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Danny Murphy card?
The Danny Murphy (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 Philadelphia Athletics player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 13 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1126 examples of the Danny Murphy 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 Danny Murphy come with?
The Danny Murphy 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 Danny Murphy 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 Danny Murphy
More Philadelphia Athletics 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 2026-07-01.