1909-11 T206 Larry McLean
1909–11 T206 Larry McLean
Cincinnati Reds · National League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Larry McLean is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Larry McLean, a member of the historic Cincinnati Reds (National League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 823 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 McLean
John Bannerman "Larry" McLean was a hulking 6-foot-5, 230-pound catcher whose 15-year major-league career (1901-1915) ran the length of the deadball era. Born July 18, 1881, in Fredericton, New Brunswick, he broke in with the Boston Americans in 1901 and, after stops with the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, found a home with the Cincinnati Reds (1906-1912), the team pictured on his T206 card. A .262 lifetime hitter, McLean batted .289 in his first full season in 1907 and topped .285 in three Cincinnati campaigns. By Baseball-Reference WAR he rated the majors' best defensive catcher from 1909 to 1911; in September 1911 he famously threw out 14 consecutive baserunners attempting to steal. Traded to the New York Giants in 1913, he replaced the injured Chief Meyers in that fall's World Series and hit a sizzling 6-for-12 against the Philadelphia Athletics. Nicknamed "Larry" for a resemblance to star second baseman Napoleon "Larry" Lajoie, McLean battled alcoholism throughout his life and was shot to death by a Boston bartender in 1921 at age 39. He is not a Hall of Famer but was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
Sources: Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (6)
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 | 493 | 14 | 36 | 80 | 121 | 97 | 78 | 67 |
| SGC | 330 | 0 | 7 | 43 | 43 | 90 | 53 | 94 |
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 1910 | 256 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 52 |
| Sweet Caporal | 40 |
| Polar Bear | 26 |
| El Principe de Gales | 18 |
| Tolstoi | 11 |
| Carolina Brights | 10 |
| Unknown back | 80 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 5 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 17 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 197 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 36 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 64 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 11 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Larry McLean card?
The Larry McLean 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 Cincinnati Reds player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 823 examples of the Larry McLean 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 McLean come with?
The Larry McLean is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: Carolina Brights, El Principe de Gales, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Larry McLean 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.
More Cincinnati Reds 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 2026-08-28.