1909-11 T206 Donnie Bush
1909–11 T206 Donnie Bush
Detroit Tigers · American League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Donnie Bush is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Donnie Bush, a member of the historic Detroit Tigers (American League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 12 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1037 examples have been graded, with only 19 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Donnie Bush
Owen Joseph "Donie" Bush was a switch-hitting shortstop and one of the finest defensive infielders of the Deadball Era. A diminutive 5-foot-6 sparkplug, he broke into pro ball in 1905 with Sault Ste. Marie before Detroit purchased him in September 1908; he manned shortstop for the Tigers from 1908 to 1921, then finished with the Washington Senators through 1923. Though he hit just .250, Bush was a master of the base on balls, leading the American League in walks a record-tying six times (1909-1912, 1914-1915). He stole 406 bases, scored 100-plus runs four times (leading the AL with 112 in 1917), and set an AL record with 425 putouts in 1914. His nickname arose from a telegraphic error that garbled "Ownie" into "Donie." He later managed the 1927 Pittsburgh Pirates to the NL pennant. This card belongs to the scarcer "350 Only" print grouping.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (12)
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 | 645 | 13 | 48 | 97 | 159 | 143 | 102 | 83 |
| SGC | 392 | 6 | 6 | 46 | 64 | 96 | 63 | 111 |
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 | 285 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 75 |
| Sweet Caporal | 45 |
| Polar Bear | 39 |
| Old Mill | 28 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 26 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 11 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| El Principe de Gales | 8 |
| Carolina Brights | 7 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Tolstoi | 1 |
| Unknown back | 110 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 3 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 4 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| Drum 1910 | 1 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 13 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 14 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 214 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 32 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 22 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 81 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 3 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Donnie Bush card?
The Donnie Bush 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 12 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1037 examples of the Donnie Bush have been graded, with only 19 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Donnie Bush come with?
The Donnie Bush is confirmed with 12 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, 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 Donnie Bush 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
- 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)
- Davy Jones
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.