1909-11 T206 Gavvy Cravath
1909–11 T206 Gavvy Cravath
Minneapolis Millers · American Association · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Gavvy Cravath is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Gavvy Cravath, a member of the historic Minneapolis Millers (American Association), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 10 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 934 examples have been graded, with only 21 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Gavvy Cravath
Clifford Carlton "Gavvy" Cravath was the Deadball Era's premier slugger, a right-handed-hitting right fielder who reached pro ball in 1903 with the Pacific Coast League's Los Angeles Angels. After brief major-league trials with Boston (1908) and the White Sox and Senators (1909), he starred for the American Association's Minneapolis Millers—the team shown on this T206 card—leading the league with a .363 average and 29 home runs in 1911. Returning to the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies (1912-1920), he led the National League in home runs six times (1913-1915, 1918-1920) and paced the Phillies to their first pennant in 1915 with 24 homers. He retired with a .287 average and 119 home runs, a 20th-century record before Babe Ruth; 92 came at the short-fenced Baker Bowl. His nickname reputedly stemmed from "gaviota" (Spanish for seagull), after a batted ball supposedly struck one in flight. He is not in the Hall of Fame.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (10)
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 | 565 | 20 | 30 | 75 | 128 | 130 | 92 | 90 |
| SGC | 369 | 1 | 6 | 47 | 53 | 106 | 75 | 81 |
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 | 222 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 71 |
| Sweet Caporal | 44 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 37 |
| Polar Bear | 33 |
| Old Mill | 23 |
| El Principe de Gales | 13 |
| Cycle 1910 | 11 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 7 |
| Carolina Brights | 2 |
| Unknown back | 102 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 7 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 11 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 11 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 187 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 28 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 30 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 87 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Gavvy Cravath card?
The Gavvy Cravath 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 Minneapolis Millers player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 10 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 934 examples of the Gavvy Cravath have been graded, with only 21 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Gavvy Cravath come with?
The Gavvy Cravath is confirmed with 10 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Gavvy Cravath 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 Minneapolis Millers 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.