1909-11 T206 John McGraw (Glove At Hip)
1909–11 T206 John McGraw
New York Giants · National League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 John McGraw (“Glove At Hip” 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 460 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1575 examples have been graded, with only 22 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.
Confirmed backs (11)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 939 | 21 | 53 | 102 | 186 | 173 | 199 | 205 |
| SGC | 636 | 1 | 9 | 67 | 85 | 140 | 120 | 214 |
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 1911 | 295 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 132 |
| Sweet Caporal | 94 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 70 |
| Tolstoi | 47 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 42 |
| Polar Bear | 41 |
| Hindu | 11 |
| El Principe de Gales | 9 |
| Old Mill | 6 |
| Cycle 1911 | 3 |
| Unknown back | 189 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1911 | 29 |
| Cycle 1911 | 6 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 9 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 10 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 6 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 245 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 43 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 58 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 187 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 41 |
| Uzit 1909-11 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 John McGraw card?
The John McGraw (Glove At Hip) 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 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1575 examples of the John McGraw have been graded, with only 22 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 11 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Uzit. 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.