1909-11 T206 Jim McGinley
1909–11 T206 Jim McGinley
Toronto Maple Leafs · Eastern League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Jim McGinley is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Jim McGinley, a member of the historic Toronto Maple Leafs (Eastern League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 741 examples have been graded, with only 17 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Jim McGinley
Jim McGinley (James William McGinley, 1878-1961) was a right-handed pitcher who came up off the mill-town semipro fields of South Groveland, Massachusetts, working the wool cards at Groveland Mills before turning pro. He broke in with Haverhill of the New England League around 1901, where he was dominant, posting a reported 25-4 record with 16 straight wins in 1904 and earning a late-season look with the St. Louis Cardinals. His major-league career was brief: he appeared in just four games for St. Louis in 1904-05, going 1-2, winning his debut 4-2 over Boston on September 22, 1904, before appendicitis surgery derailed his 1905 season and he was released. McGinley found his real home in the Eastern League with the Toronto Maple Leafs (1906-1911), where he was a workhorse, throwing 200-plus innings a year and winning 22 games in both 1907 and 1909. He pitched professionally for roughly 19 seasons through 1919. As one of T206's many obscure minor-league subjects (Toronto, "350 Only" series), his card is far scarcer and less prominent than the set's major-league stars. No true nickname is documented, though the Toronto press once dubbed him "Toronto's Ty Cobb" amid a salary holdout. He is not a Hall of Famer.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (6)
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 | 456 | 14 | 25 | 60 | 128 | 74 | 94 | 61 |
| SGC | 285 | 3 | 5 | 23 | 45 | 80 | 52 | 77 |
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 | 242 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 42 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 40 |
| Sweet Caporal | 29 |
| Cycle 1910 | 12 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 4 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Unknown back | 85 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 5 |
| Cycle 1910 | 2 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 185 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 31 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 62 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Jim McGinley card?
The Jim McGinley 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 Toronto Maple Leafs player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 741 examples of the Jim McGinley have been graded, with only 17 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Jim McGinley come with?
The Jim McGinley is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Jim McGinley 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 Toronto Maple Leafs 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.