1909-11 T206 John McGraw (Portrait - No Cap)
1909–11 T206 John McGraw
New York Giants · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 John McGraw (“Portrait - No Cap” 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 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1319 examples have been graded, with only 23 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 (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 776 | 20 | 31 | 73 | 160 | 137 | 179 | 176 |
| SGC | 543 | 3 | 5 | 38 | 59 | 110 | 108 | 220 |
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 | 146 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 134 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 80 |
| Sweet Caporal | 74 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 54 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 50 |
| Sovereign | 19 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 10 |
| Hindu | 9 |
| Old Mill | 8 |
| Unknown back | 176 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 4 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 233 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 89 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 4 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 23 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 121 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 3 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 66 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 John McGraw card?
The John McGraw (Portrait - No Cap) 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 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1319 examples of the John McGraw have been graded, with only 23 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 5 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, 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.