1909-11 T206 Dolly Gray
1909–11 T206 Dolly Gray
Washington Senators · American League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Dolly Gray is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Dolly Gray, a member of the historic Washington Senators (American League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 848 examples have been graded, with only 18 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Dolly Gray
William Denton "Dolly" Gray was a left-handed pitcher whose reputation was built almost entirely in the minor leagues. Born December 4, 1878 in Houghton, Michigan, he was working as a miner in Globe, Arizona before signing with the Los Angeles club of the California League in 1902, where a sportswriter tagged him "Dolly" after the popular song "Goodbye, Dolly Gray." He became a star of the Pacific Coast League, going a combined 155-94 and leading the circuit with 32 wins and a 1.59 ERA in 1907 before a 26-11, 1.71-ERA campaign in 1908 earned him a big-league shot. A 30-year-old rookie, Gray pitched all three of his major-league seasons for the woeful Washington Senators (1909-1911), finishing just 15-51 with a 3.52 ERA. His enduring claim to fame is a dubious one: on August 28, 1909, he walked eight batters in one inning (seven consecutively), still major-league records, while losing a one-hitter to Chicago. He returned to the PCL afterward and was elected to that league's Hall of Fame in 2008. Gray is one of the T206 set's many common, obscure deadball subjects, not a Cooperstown Hall of Famer.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (6)
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 | 537 | 13 | 36 | 70 | 119 | 110 | 111 | 78 |
| SGC | 311 | 5 | 8 | 42 | 47 | 84 | 57 | 68 |
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 1910 | 268 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 56 |
| Polar Bear | 40 |
| Sweet Caporal | 34 |
| El Principe de Gales | 19 |
| Tolstoi | 13 |
| Carolina Brights | 5 |
| Unknown back | 102 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 3 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 14 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 192 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 29 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 62 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 11 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Dolly Gray card?
The Dolly Gray 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 Washington Senators player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 848 examples of the Dolly Gray have been graded, with only 18 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Dolly Gray come with?
The Dolly Gray is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: Carolina Brights, El Principe de Gales, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Dolly Gray 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 Washington Senators 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.