1909-11 T206 Walter Johnson (Glove At Chest)
1909–11 T206 Walter Johnson
Washington Senators · American League · 350-460 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Walter Johnson (“Glove At Chest” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Walter Johnson, a member of the historic Washington Senators (American League), and was printed in the 350-460 series, known with 13 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 2018 examples have been graded, with only 43 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Walter Johnson
Born 1887 in Humboldt, KS (d. 1946), Walter Johnson was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1907 and played 21 major-league seasons. He went 417-279 with a 2.17 ERA and 3,509 strikeouts across 802 appearances. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. His 110 career shutouts remain the most in major-league history, and he is the only pitcher ever to record more than 100.
Confirmed backs (13)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1192 | 35 | 55 | 124 | 213 | 205 | 266 | 294 |
| SGC | 826 | 8 | 20 | 67 | 75 | 167 | 157 | 332 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Polar Bear | 146 |
| Sweet Caporal | 119 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 118 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 116 |
| Piedmont | 114 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 87 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 67 |
| Old Mill | 50 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 24 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 20 |
| Tolstoi | 20 |
| El Principe de Gales | 16 |
| Hindu | 6 |
| Cycle 1911 | 5 |
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 4 |
| Drum | 3 |
| Lenox | 2 |
| Unknown back | 275 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 15 |
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 1 |
| Cycle 1911 | 6 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 8 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 4 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 52 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 157 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 75 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 153 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 27 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 2 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 177 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 124 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 25 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Walter Johnson card?
The Walter Johnson (Glove At Chest) 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 Washington Senators player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 13 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 2018 examples of the Walter Johnson have been graded, with only 43 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Walter Johnson come with?
The Walter Johnson is confirmed with 13 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Hindu, 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 Walter Johnson 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.