1909-11 T206 Nap Lajoie (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Nap Lajoie
Cleveland Naps · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Nap Lajoie (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Nap Lajoie, a member of the historic Cleveland Naps (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1777 examples have been graded, with only 35 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Nap Lajoie
Born 1874 in Woonsocket, RI (d. 1959), Nap Lajoie was a right-handed second baseman who debuted in 1896 and played 21 major-league seasons. He batted .338 with 3,242 hits, 83 home runs, and 380 stolen bases in 2,480 games. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937. His .426 batting average in 1901, when he won the Triple Crown for the Philadelphia Athletics, remains the highest single-season average in American League history.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1046 | 31 | 37 | 79 | 193 | 203 | 245 | 258 |
| SGC | 731 | 4 | 9 | 41 | 85 | 133 | 152 | 307 |
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 | 201 |
| Piedmont | 155 |
| Sweet Caporal | 134 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 111 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 71 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 47 |
| Sovereign | 22 |
| Hindu | 17 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 15 |
| Old Mill | 7 |
| Unknown back | 250 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 16 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 2 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 316 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 117 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 1 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 20 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 18 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 154 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 87 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Nap Lajoie card?
The Nap Lajoie (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 Cleveland Naps player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1777 examples of the Nap Lajoie have been graded, with only 35 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Nap Lajoie come with?
The Nap Lajoie 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 Nap Lajoie 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.