1909–11 T206 Walter Johnson
Washington Senators · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Walter Johnson (“Portrait” 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 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 2195 examples have been graded, with only 29 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson was a right-handed pitcher who spent his entire 21-year major-league career with the Washington Senators (1907-1927) after being discovered as a teenager firing fastballs for a semipro club in Weiser, Idaho; the Senators sent catcher Cliff Blankenship to sign the 19-year-old, who had struck out 214 in 146 innings with a 0.55 ERA. Over two decades he won 417 games against 279 losses with a 2.17 ERA, 3,509 strikeouts and a record 110 shutouts, twice earning MVP honors (1913 and 1924) and throwing his lone no-hitter on July 1, 1920. He anchored Washington's only World Series title in 1924, taking the win in relief in Game 7, and repeated as pennant winner in 1925. Nicknamed "The Big Train" for a fastball whose speed evoked a locomotive, Johnson is regarded as one of the greatest pitchers ever and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1936 as one of its five inaugural "Immortals." His card is among the most prized and valuable Hall-of-Fame keys in the T206 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · 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 | 1264 | 25 | 47 | 104 | 213 | 207 | 297 | 371 |
| SGC | 931 | 4 | 9 | 72 | 78 | 147 | 189 | 432 |
NM 7+ bundles grades 7–10; 1 & Auth bundles grade 1, 1.5 & Authentic. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are subject-level (summed across all backs). Population as of 2026-06.
PSA by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1909 | 233 |
| Piedmont | 228 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 154 |
| Sweet Caporal | 113 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 94 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 50 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 22 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 22 |
| Sovereign | 21 |
| Hindu | 17 |
| El Principe de Gales | 16 |
| Old Mill | 5 |
| Unknown back | 289 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 18 |
| Hindu 1909 | 2 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 19 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 2 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 395 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 136 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 1 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 25 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 34 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 202 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 7 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 90 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Walter Johnson card?
The Walter Johnson (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 Washington Senators player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 2195 examples of the Walter Johnson have been graded, with only 29 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 6 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. 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.
Other poses of Walter Johnson
More Washington Senators 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 2026-10-05.