1909-11 T206 Larry Doyle (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Larry Doyle
New York Giants · National League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Larry Doyle (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Larry Doyle, a member of the historic New York Giants (National League), and was printed in the 460 Only series, known with 10 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 873 examples have been graded, with only 14 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Larry Doyle
Lawrence Joseph "Laughing Larry" Doyle was born in 1886 in Caseyville, Illinois, and worked in the coal mines before signing his first pro contract with Mattoon of the Kitty League in 1906. John McGraw bought his rights from Springfield of the Three-I League for a then-record $4,500, and Doyle debuted for the New York Giants in July 1907, becoming their everyday second baseman for the next decade. A left-handed hitter with power and speed, he batted .290 with 1,887 hits over 14 seasons (Giants 1907-1916 and 1918-1920, Cubs 1916-1917). He led the NL in hits in 1909 (172), won the 1912 Chalmers Award as the league's Most Valuable Player, and captured the 1915 NL batting title at .320. Doyle anchored McGraw's three straight pennant winners of 1911-1913, though the Giants lost all three World Series. Nicknamed "Laughing Larry" for his sunny, good-natured disposition, he was the club's field captain and is remembered for telling Damon Runyon, "It's great to be young and a New York Giant." He is not in the Hall of Fame.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (10)
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 | 537 | 12 | 35 | 73 | 143 | 98 | 95 | 81 |
| SGC | 336 | 2 | 8 | 44 | 66 | 65 | 67 | 84 |
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 | 183 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 104 |
| Sweet Caporal | 58 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 19 |
| Old Mill | 17 |
| Polar Bear | 17 |
| Tolstoi | 17 |
| El Principe de Gales | 9 |
| Lenox | 7 |
| Cycle 1911 | 6 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 2 |
| Unknown back | 98 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Cycle 1911 | 4 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 16 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 7 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 19 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 133 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 18 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 18 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 107 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 14 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Larry Doyle card?
The Larry Doyle (Portrait) 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 10 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 873 examples of the Larry Doyle have been graded, with only 14 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Larry Doyle come with?
The Larry Doyle is confirmed with 10 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Larry Doyle 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 Larry Doyle
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.