1909-11 T206 Irv Young
1909–11 T206 Irv Young
Minneapolis Millers · American Association · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Irv Young is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Irv Young, a member of the historic Minneapolis Millers (American Association), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 7 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 646 examples have been graded, with only 11 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Irv Young
Irving Melrose "Irv" Young was a left-handed pitcher born July 21, 1877, in Columbia Falls, Maine. He worked as a railroad fireman and in a New Hampshire hosiery mill, pitching for amateur clubs on weekends, and did not turn pro until age 26, going to Concord of the New England League in 1904; after 18 wins there, scout Billy Hamilton steered him to the Boston Beaneaters. His 1905 rookie season is legendary: he led the National League with 378 innings, 42 starts, and 41 complete games, posted seven shutouts and a 2.90 ERA, and went 20-21 for a wretched 51-103 club — his 378 innings and 41 complete games remain major-league rookie records. He pitched for Boston (Beaneaters/Doves, 1905-08), Pittsburgh (1908), and the Chicago White Sox (1910-11), finishing 63-95 with a 3.11 ERA, 21 shutouts, and 560 strikeouts over 1,384.2 innings. Nicknamed "Cy the Second" (or "Young Cy") for his resemblance to the great Cy Young, he tossed a 17-inning shutout against Brooklyn in 1908, scoring the winning run himself. On this scarcer 350-series T206 card he is shown with the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association, where he pitched after his Boston peak. He died January 14, 1935, in Brewer, Maine.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (7)
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 | 363 | 10 | 13 | 32 | 72 | 70 | 81 | 85 |
| SGC | 283 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 38 | 66 | 62 | 86 |
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 | 160 |
| Polar Bear | 36 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 30 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 21 |
| Sweet Caporal | 17 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 11 |
| Cycle 1910 | 9 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 5 |
| Unknown back | 74 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 5 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 4 |
| Cycle 1910 | 2 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 177 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 22 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 17 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 55 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Irv Young card?
The Irv Young 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 Minneapolis Millers player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 7 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 646 examples of the Irv Young have been graded, with only 11 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Irv Young come with?
The Irv Young is confirmed with 7 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Irv Young 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 Minneapolis Millers 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 2026-07-01.