1909-11 T206 Gus Dorner
1909–11 T206 Gus Dorner
Kansas City Blues · American Association · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Gus Dorner is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Gus Dorner, a member of the historic Kansas City Blues (American Association), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 8 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 977 examples have been graded, with only 27 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Gus Dorner
Born 1876 in Chambersburg, PA (d. 1956), Gus Dorner was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1902 and played 6 major-league seasons. He went 36-69 with a 3.37 ERA and 275 strikeouts across 131 appearances.
Confirmed backs (8)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 612 | 20 | 44 | 83 | 146 | 129 | 122 | 68 |
| SGC | 365 | 7 | 5 | 37 | 74 | 100 | 50 | 92 |
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 | 347 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 58 |
| Sweet Caporal | 39 |
| Polar Bear | 34 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 11 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| Tolstoi | 3 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 3 |
| Unknown back | 109 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 14 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 253 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 11 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 76 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 3 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Gus Dorner card?
The Gus Dorner 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 Kansas City Blues player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 8 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 977 examples of the Gus Dorner have been graded, with only 27 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Gus Dorner come with?
The Gus Dorner is confirmed with 8 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Gus Dorner 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.