1909–11 T206 Orval Overall
Chicago Cubs · National League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Orval Overall (“Hands Waist Level” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Orval Overall, a member of the historic Chicago Cubs (National League), and was printed in the 460 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 775 examples have been graded, with only 13 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Orval Overall
Orval Overall starred in both football and baseball at the University of California-Berkeley before leaving school in early 1904 to turn professional with Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League. The right-hander reached the majors with the Cincinnati Reds in 1905, then was dealt to the Chicago Cubs in June 1906, arriving just in time to anchor one of the greatest dynasties in the game. A workhorse for four straight pennant winners, he tied Christy Mathewson for the NL shutout lead in 1907 and enjoyed his finest season in 1909, going 20-11 while leading the National League in strikeouts (205), opponents' batting average (.198), and shutouts (9). Overall was money in October, posting a 3-1 record and 1.58 ERA in the World Series; in the 1908 clincher he three-hit the Detroit Tigers and fanned four men in a single inning. Arm trouble ended his career in 1913 with a 108-71 mark and a sparkling 2.23 ERA, among the lowest in big-league history. Nicknamed "Big Groundhog" for his February 2 birthday, he later worked in California banking. He is a solid mid-series subject in the famed T206 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (11)
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 | 426 | 11 | 29 | 64 | 101 | 76 | 78 | 67 |
| SGC | 349 | 2 | 11 | 46 | 64 | 68 | 62 | 96 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 87 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 82 |
| Sweet Caporal | 67 |
| Polar Bear | 25 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 24 |
| Old Mill | 17 |
| El Principe de Gales | 10 |
| Lenox | 9 |
| Tolstoi | 9 |
| Cycle 1911 | 5 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 4 |
| Uzit | 1 |
| Unknown back | 86 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1911 | 1 |
| Cycle 1911 | 4 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 5 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 3 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 12 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 155 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 23 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 14 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 116 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 14 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Orval Overall card?
The Orval Overall (Hands Waist Level) 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 Chicago Cubs player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 775 examples of the Orval Overall have been graded, with only 13 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Orval Overall come with?
The Orval Overall is confirmed with 11 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Uzit. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Orval Overall 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 Orval Overall
More Chicago Cubs cards
- George Brown (Chicago)
- Mordecai Brown (Chicago On Shirt)
- Mordecai Brown (Cubs On Shirt)
- Mordecai Brown (Portrait)
- Frank Chance (Batting)
- Frank Chance (Portrait - Red)
- Frank Chance (Portrait - Yellow)
- Johnny Evers (Portrait)
- Johnny Evers (Chicago On Shirt - Yellow Sky)
- Johnny Evers (Cubs On Shirt - Blue Sky)
- Solly Hofman
- Del Howard
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.