1909-11 T206 Jerry Downs
1909–11 T206 Jerry Downs
Minneapolis Millers · American Association · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Jerry Downs is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Jerry Downs, a member of the historic Minneapolis Millers (American Association), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 8 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 886 examples have been graded, with only 25 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Jerry Downs
Jerome Willis "Red" Downs — nicknamed for his red hair — grew up on the town team in Neola, Iowa, and worked his way up through the low minors (Fort Scott, Guthrie, and Topeka, roughly 1902-1906), where his power hitting earned him a Detroit Tigers contract. An infielder, chiefly a second baseman, he debuted with Detroit on May 2, 1907, briefly patrolling the outfield alongside young Ty Cobb before settling at second. He batted .227 across 241 major-league games (1907-1908, plus a 1912 stint with Brooklyn and the Chicago Cubs). His signature moment came on Detroit's 1908 American League pennant winner: he started two games of the 1908 World Series against the Cubs, going 1-for-6 with a double. Downs spent most of 1909 with the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association — the club shown on this T206 card. He later blossomed as a hitter for Columbus and, with the San Francisco Seals, managed the team to the 1917 Pacific Coast League pennant. A minor-league subject rather than a star, he is not a Hall of Famer.
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 | 538 | 19 | 33 | 77 | 128 | 89 | 127 | 65 |
| SGC | 348 | 6 | 10 | 36 | 54 | 74 | 77 | 91 |
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 | 310 |
| Sweet Caporal | 56 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 50 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 14 |
| Cycle 1910 | 10 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 5 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Tolstoi | 2 |
| Drum | 1 |
| Unknown back | 88 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 6 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Cycle 1910 | 3 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 246 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 72 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Jerry Downs card?
The Jerry Downs 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 8 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 886 examples of the Jerry Downs have been graded, with only 25 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Jerry Downs come with?
The Jerry Downs is confirmed with 8 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Jerry Downs 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.