1909-11 T206 Davy Jones
1909–11 T206 Davy Jones
Detroit Tigers · American League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Davy Jones is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Davy Jones, a member of the historic Detroit Tigers (American League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 8 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1194 examples have been graded, with only 35 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Davy Jones
David Jefferson Jones (1880-1972) was a speedy dead-ball outfielder who signed out of the Midwest with Rockford of the Three-I League in 1901, winning that circuit's batting title at .384. After jumping contracts among several clubs, he played for the Chicago Cubs (1902-1904) before finding his home with the Detroit Tigers (1906-1912), where he was a pesky, fleet-footed leadoff man in an outfield that also held Hall of Famers Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford. Jones was a key contributor to Detroit's three straight American League pennants in 1907, 1908, and 1909 - though the Tigers lost the World Series all three years. His finest season came in 1907, when he scored 101 runs and stole 30 bases. He later played for the White Sox (1913) and the Federal League's Pittsburgh Rebels (1914-1915), finishing with a .270 average and 1,020 hits. Nicknamed "The Kangaroo" - a tag the press hung on him for repeatedly jumping his contracts - Jones is best remembered today for his vivid recollections in Lawrence Ritter's classic oral history The Glory of Their Times (1966). He is not in the Hall of Fame, but as a Cobb-and-Crawford-era Tiger he is a recognizable subject in the T206 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (8)
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 | 746 | 30 | 52 | 97 | 181 | 147 | 137 | 102 |
| SGC | 448 | 5 | 12 | 55 | 71 | 117 | 81 | 107 |
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 1910 | 387 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 84 |
| Sweet Caporal | 64 |
| Polar Bear | 43 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 13 |
| Cycle 1910 | 12 |
| Tolstoi | 8 |
| Carolina Brights | 6 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Unknown back | 128 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 14 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 4 |
| Cycle 1910 | 10 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 286 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 27 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 101 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Davy Jones card?
The Davy Jones 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 Detroit Tigers player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 8 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1194 examples of the Davy Jones 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 Davy Jones come with?
The Davy Jones is confirmed with 8 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Davy Jones 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.
More Detroit Tigers cards
- Donnie Bush
- Ty Cobb (Portrait - Green)
- Ty Cobb (Portrait - Red)
- Ty Cobb (Bat Off Shoulder)
- Ty Cobb (Bat On Shoulder)
- Sam Crawford (Throwing)
- Sam Crawford (With Bat)
- Wild Bill Donovan (Portrait)
- Wild Bill Donovan (Throwing)
- Hughie Jennings (One Hand Showing)
- Hughie Jennings (Two Hands Showing)
- Hughie Jennings (Portrait)
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.