1909-11 T206 John McGraw (Finger In Air)
1909–11 T206 John McGraw
New York Giants · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 John McGraw (“Finger In Air” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts John McGraw, a member of the historic New York Giants (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1474 examples have been graded, with only 37 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About John McGraw
Raised in working-class poverty in Truxton, New York, John McGraw signed with Olean of the New York-Penn League in 1890 and reached the majors with the Baltimore Orioles in 1891. A scrappy 5-foot-7 third baseman, he became the on-base engine of Ned Hanlon's legendary Orioles, helping win three straight National League pennants (1894-96) alongside Willie Keeler and Joe Kelley. McGraw retired with a .334 career average and a .466 on-base percentage that still ranks third all-time behind only Ted Williams and Babe Ruth, plus 436 stolen bases. As player-manager he jumped to the New York Giants in 1902 and ran them through 1932, winning 10 NL pennants and three World Series titles (1905, 1921, 1922) and compiling 2,763 managerial victories, second only to Connie Mack in his era. Nicknamed "Little Napoleon" for his tiny stature and dictatorial command, the fiery Hall of Famer (inducted 1937) was ejected from a then-record 118 games. He is among the T206 set's most sought-after Hall of Fame managers, appearing on several distinct poses.
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 | 885 | 34 | 46 | 81 | 160 | 177 | 184 | 203 |
| SGC | 589 | 3 | 8 | 33 | 67 | 127 | 121 | 230 |
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 | 184 |
| Piedmont | 170 |
| Sweet Caporal | 89 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 88 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 64 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 25 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 21 |
| Old Mill | 13 |
| Sovereign | 13 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 12 |
| Unknown back | 206 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 18 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 234 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 83 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 24 |
| Sovereign 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 29 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 131 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 68 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 John McGraw card?
The John McGraw (Finger In Air) 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 New York Giants player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1474 examples of the John McGraw have been graded, with only 37 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 John McGraw come with?
The John McGraw 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 John McGraw 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 John McGraw
More New York Giants 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.