On Display: 1909–11 T206 Nap Lajoie “Throwing” – PSA 9 MINT
Issued: 1909–11 by American Tobacco Company
Brand: Piedmont 150 Subjects, Factory 25
Card Designation: Pop 1 – Highest Graded for Piedmont 150
Career Highlights: .338 AVG | 3,248 Hits | 5x Batting Champion | 1901 Triple Crown
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame: 1937
“Lajoie was the greatest natural hitter I ever saw.” — Shoeless Joe Jackson
Among the most revered figures of baseball’s early era, Napoleon Lajoie stands as one of the game’s original legends. This 1909–11 T206 card, depicting Lajoie in his iconic throwing pose, is a marvel of both artistry and rarity. Graded PSA 9 MINT, it is the only known example at this tier with a Piedmont 150 Cigarettes back, making it a true “Pop 1” gem. Out of thousands of surviving T206 Lajoie cards, only four others (across all ad backs) have ever achieved the same grade, with none higher.
Lajoie—affectionately known as “Larry” or “The Frenchman”—was a dominant second baseman whose achievements rivaled those of Rogers Hornsby and Eddie Collins. His .426 batting average in 1901 remains a Major League record and capped off a year in which he also led the league in home runs (14) and RBIs (125)—an early version of the Triple Crown. Over a 21-year career with the Philadelphia Athletics and Cleveland Naps, he collected 3,248 hits and posted a .338 lifetime average, winning five batting titles and earning lasting fame as the namesake of the Cleveland franchise.
This T206 example captures Lajoie mid-action in his “Throwing” stance, surrounded by a warm yellow, orange, and green backdrop that contrasts beautifully with the grayscale tones of his uniform. The card’s crystal-clear image, vibrant coloring, and sharp white borders reflect its astonishing state of preservation—remarkably intact after more than a century. Virtually flawless surfaces, razor-sharp corners, and a bold Piedmont Cigarettes back further elevate this card to museum-quality status.