1909–11 T206 Harry Covaleski
Philadelphia Phillies · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Harry Covaleski is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Harry Covaleski, a member of the historic Philadelphia Phillies (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 813 examples have been graded, with only 29 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Harry Covaleski
Harry Coveleski (born Harry Frank Kowalewski, 1886-1950) was a left-handed pitcher and the older brother of Hall of Famer Stan Coveleski. A son of Polish immigrants raised in the coal-mining town of Shamokin, Pennsylvania, he was signed off the sandlots in 1907 and reached the Philadelphia Phillies that same year. As a 1908 rookie he earned lasting fame as the "Giant Killer," beating John McGraw's pennant-contending New York Giants three times in five days late that September and October, including a 3-2 win over Christy Mathewson, a run that helped cost New York the National League flag. After stints with the Phillies (1907-1909) and Cincinnati (1910), he resurfaced with the Detroit Tigers and became a star, winning 22, 22, and 21 games in 1914, 1915, and 1916 while posting ERAs under 2.50 each year. An arm injury ended his effectiveness, and he retired in 1918. His T206 card depicts him as a Philadelphia Phillie during his Giant-Killing days.
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 | 490 | 22 | 26 | 51 | 120 | 83 | 100 | 88 |
| SGC | 323 | 7 | 7 | 31 | 42 | 81 | 65 | 90 |
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 | 103 |
| Piedmont | 97 |
| Sweet Caporal | 56 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 52 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 31 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 21 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 20 |
| El Principe de Gales | 16 |
| Old Mill | 6 |
| Unknown back | 88 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 10 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 155 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 30 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 14 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 82 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 31 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Harry Covaleski card?
The Harry Covaleski 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 Phillies player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 813 examples of the Harry Covaleski have been graded, with only 29 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Harry Covaleski come with?
The Harry Covaleski 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 Harry Covaleski 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 Philadelphia Phillies 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.