1909-11 T206 Jimmy Collins
1909–11 T206 Jimmy Collins
Minneapolis Millers · American Association · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Jimmy Collins is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Jimmy Collins, a member of the historic Minneapolis Millers (American Association), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1190 examples have been graded, with only 34 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Jimmy Collins
Jimmy Collins signed with Buffalo of the minor leagues in 1893 after clerking for a railroad, breaking in as a shortstop before finding his home at third base. Reaching the majors with the Boston Beaneaters (and a brief 1895 Louisville stint), he became the deadball era's premier defensive third baseman, celebrated for charging bunts—a play that had belonged to shortstops—and earning acclaim as "king of the third basemen." Over 14 big-league seasons he batted .294, hit .346 in 1897, and led the National League with 15 home runs in 1898. Jumping to the new Boston Americans in 1901, Collins served as player-manager, guiding the club to consecutive American League pennants in 1903–04 and victory in the inaugural 1903 World Series over Pittsburgh. He closed his career at Philadelphia (1907–08) and as player-manager of the Minneapolis Millers—the team pictured on this 350-only card. In 1945 he became the first man enshrined at Cooperstown primarily as a third baseman.
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 | 690 | 28 | 57 | 81 | 160 | 131 | 121 | 112 |
| SGC | 500 | 6 | 12 | 59 | 53 | 105 | 97 | 168 |
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 | 339 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 65 |
| Sweet Caporal | 49 |
| Polar Bear | 43 |
| El Principe de Gales | 29 |
| Tolstoi | 16 |
| Carolina Brights | 9 |
| Unknown back | 140 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 5 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 31 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 311 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 57 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 84 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 12 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Jimmy Collins card?
The Jimmy Collins 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 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1190 examples of the Jimmy Collins have been graded, with only 34 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Jimmy Collins come with?
The Jimmy Collins is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: Carolina Brights, El Principe de Gales, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Jimmy Collins 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.