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
Born 1890 in Intercourse, PA (d. 1967), John McGraw was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1914 and played 1 major-league season. He went 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 2 strikeouts across 1 appearances. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Nicknamed 'Little Napoleon' for his domineering style, he managed the Giants for three decades and led them to 10 National League pennants and three World Series championships.
Confirmed backs (4)
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 the T206
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.