1909-11 T206 J.F. Kiernan
1909–11 T206 J.F. Kiernan
Columbia Gamecocks · South Atlantic League · Southern Leaguer print series
The 1909–1911 T206 J.F. Kiernan is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts J.F. Kiernan, a member of the historic Columbia Gamecocks (South Atlantic League), and was printed in the Southern Leaguer series, known with 3 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 542 examples have been graded, with only 19 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About J.F. Kiernan
John Francis Kiernan was a career minor-league outfielder, born in January 1882 in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, whose lone claim to lasting fame is his card in the T206 set. He broke into pro ball in 1904 close to home with New Bedford of the Class B New England League, then spent several seasons in that circuit with Fall River and Worcester, plus a stop at Portsmouth in the Virginia League. He came south to Columbia of the Class C South Atlantic ("Sally") League in 1908, hitting .265, and returned in 1909 — the season that put him in T206. That year he bounced through four clubs, opening with Columbia before moving on to Charleston/Knoxville and then Jacksonville in the Sally League, with a stint back at Worcester; American Tobacco pictured him with Columbia, the team he started 1909 with, so the card reads "Kiernan, Columbia." He later played at Waterbury (Connecticut State League, 1910) and Fall River (Colonial League, 1914), finishing with a documented .247 average across eight recorded minor-league seasons. Kiernan never appeared in a major-league game, and no verified nickname survives. As one of roughly 48 Southern Leaguers in the set, his card is a scarce, sought-after piece for collectors chasing the full "Monster."
Sources: Baseball-Reference
Confirmed backs (3)
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 | 312 | 17 | 16 | 35 | 70 | 64 | 53 | 57 |
| SGC | 230 | 2 | 4 | 27 | 24 | 51 | 36 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Old Mill | 163 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 91 |
| Hindu | 12 |
| Unknown back | 46 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 16 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 125 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 89 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 J.F. Kiernan card?
The J.F. Kiernan 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 Columbia Gamecocks player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 3 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 542 examples of the J.F. Kiernan 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 J.F. Kiernan come with?
The J.F. Kiernan is confirmed with 3 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 J.F. Kiernan 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 Columbia Gamecocks 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 2026-08-28.