1909-11 T206 Red Ames (Hands Above Head)
1909–11 T206 Red Ames
New York Giants · National League · 350-460 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Red Ames (“Hands Above Head” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Red Ames, a member of the historic New York Giants (National League), and was printed in the 350-460 series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 995 examples have been graded, with only 21 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Red Ames
Born 1882 in Warren, OH (d. 1936), Red Ames was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1903 and played 17 major-league seasons. He went 183-167 with a 2.63 ERA and 1,702 strikeouts across 533 appearances.
Confirmed backs (11)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 596 | 17 | 39 | 86 | 142 | 96 | 126 | 90 |
| SGC | 399 | 4 | 11 | 41 | 67 | 91 | 84 | 101 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Polar Bear | 82 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 72 |
| Sweet Caporal | 69 |
| Piedmont | 65 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 52 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 45 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 35 |
| Old Mill | 31 |
| Tolstoi | 14 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 14 |
| El Principe de Gales | 9 |
| Cycle 1911 | 8 |
| Lenox | 1 |
| Unknown back | 99 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Cycle 1911 | 7 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 10 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 1 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 23 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 70 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 35 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 74 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 17 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 84 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 57 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 21 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Red Ames card?
The Red Ames (Hands Above Head) 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 New York Giants player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 995 examples of the Red Ames have been graded, with only 21 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Red Ames come with?
The Red Ames is confirmed with 11 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Uzit. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Red Ames 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.