1909-11 T206 Dode Criss
1909–11 T206 Dode Criss
St Louis Browns · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Dode Criss is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Dode Criss, a member of the historic St Louis Browns (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 897 examples have been graded, with only 27 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Dode Criss
Dode Criss (1885-1955), born and died in Sherman, Mississippi, broke into pro ball in the Texas League, starring for the 1906 Cleburne Railroaders champions and throwing a no-hitter that June 28. He signed with the St. Louis Browns for the 1908 season and spent his entire four-year big-league career there (1908-1911) as a right-handed pitcher and first baseman who batted left-handed. But Criss made his mark as a pinch hitter: in 1908 he became the first player to pinch hit at least 40 times in a season (12 hits in 41 at-bats), and he led the American League in pinch hits in each of his four seasons, becoming the first player to pinch hit 100-plus times in a career. Bill James called him the first player used regularly as a pinch hitter, and he is often cited as the game's first true "professional" pinch hitter. He hit .276 overall (84 hits, 3 HR, 47 RBI) but pitched to just a 3-9 record and 4.38 ERA. Back in the minors he led the Texas League in batting three times and threw three no-hitters for Houston, later earning election to the Texas League Hall of Fame. He is one of the more obscure common subjects in the T206 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (4)
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 | 567 | 22 | 40 | 55 | 141 | 112 | 116 | 81 |
| SGC | 330 | 5 | 7 | 27 | 46 | 87 | 60 | 98 |
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 | 113 |
| Piedmont | 113 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 60 |
| Sweet Caporal | 55 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 41 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 37 |
| Sovereign | 17 |
| Old Mill | 15 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 10 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 8 |
| Unknown back | 98 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 5 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 135 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 59 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 11 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 12 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 81 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 27 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Dode Criss card?
The Dode Criss 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 St Louis Browns player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 897 examples of the Dode Criss 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 Dode Criss come with?
The Dode Criss is confirmed with 4 tobacco-brand backs: Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Dode Criss 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.
More St Louis Browns 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.