1909–11 T206 Jimmy Phelan
Providence Grays · Eastern League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Jimmy Phelan is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Jimmy Phelan, a member of the historic Providence Grays (Eastern League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 734 examples have been graded, with only 20 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Jimmy Phelan
John F. "Jimmy" Phelan was a career minor-league outfielder who never reached the major leagues, one of the many minor leaguers pictured in the T206 set alongside its big-league stars. Breaking into pro ball around 1905 with Nashua of the New England League, he moved to Manchester (1906) and then to the Eastern League, playing for the Montreal Royals (1906-07) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (1908). He spent the bulk of his career with the Providence Grays of the Eastern League (roughly 1907-1911), the club shown on both his T206 White Border card and his 1911 T205 Gold Border card. A light hitter, Phelan failed to top .227 in his final four Providence seasons; he closed out his career with the Utica Utes of the New York State League (1912-1914) before retiring after 1914, finishing with a lifetime professional batting average of about .241. His card is a common, affordable subject in the set rather than one of its famous or scarce names, valued today chiefly as an authentic slice of Eastern League deadball history.
Sources: Baseball-Reference
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 | 441 | 15 | 27 | 50 | 116 | 76 | 88 | 69 |
| SGC | 293 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 46 | 92 | 40 | 70 |
NM 7+ bundles grades 7–10; 1 & Auth bundles grade 1, 1.5 & Authentic. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are subject-level (summed across all backs). Population as of 2026-06.
PSA by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1910 | 222 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 50 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 44 |
| Sweet Caporal | 26 |
| Cycle 1910 | 9 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 6 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Unknown back | 82 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 4 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 4 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 169 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 39 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 72 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Jimmy Phelan card?
The Jimmy Phelan 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 Providence Grays player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 734 examples of the Jimmy Phelan have been graded, with only 20 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Jimmy Phelan come with?
The Jimmy Phelan 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 Jimmy Phelan 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 Providence Grays 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 2026-10-05.