1909-11 T206 Lou Criger
1909–11 T206 Lou Criger
St Louis Browns · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Lou Criger is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Lou Criger, a member of the historic St Louis Browns (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 775 examples have been graded, with only 19 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Lou Criger
Lou Criger was the premier defensive catcher of the early Deadball Era, prized for a strong, accurate arm and shrewd pitch-calling despite a feeble bat. Born near Elkhart, Indiana, in 1872, he broke into pro ball in 1895 with the Michigan State League's Kalamazoo Kazoos before reaching the Cleveland Spiders in 1896. He is best remembered as Cy Young's personal catcher, working behind the plate for most of Young's wins from 1897 through 1908 as the pair moved from Cleveland to St. Louis and then to the Boston Americans. In 1903 Criger caught every game of the first modern World Series, helping Boston beat Pittsburgh. A classic good-field, no-hit backstop, he batted just .221 over 16 seasons. His T206 card captures his 1909 stint with the St. Louis Browns. Criger later disclosed he had refused a gambler's $12,000 offer to throw the 1903 Series. He is not in the Hall of Fame.
Sources: Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (4)
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 | 23 | 54 | 119 | 108 | 98 | 77 |
| SGC | 282 | 5 | 5 | 27 | 58 | 78 | 48 | 61 |
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 | 117 |
| Piedmont | 113 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 60 |
| Sweet Caporal | 48 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 27 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| Sovereign | 13 |
| El Principe de Gales | 8 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 7 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 2 |
| Unknown back | 82 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 10 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 133 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 34 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 19 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 74 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 2 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Lou Criger card?
The Lou Criger 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 St Louis Browns player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 775 examples of the Lou Criger have been graded, with only 19 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Lou Criger come with?
The Lou Criger is confirmed with 4 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Lou Criger 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 St Louis Browns 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.