1909-11 T206 Red Ames (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Red Ames
New York Giants · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Red Ames (“Portrait” 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 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 888 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 (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 530 | 16 | 20 | 67 | 124 | 89 | 110 | 104 |
| SGC | 358 | 5 | 8 | 27 | 57 | 66 | 73 | 122 |
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 | 99 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 95 |
| Sweet Caporal | 56 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 54 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 44 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 27 |
| Sovereign | 15 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 11 |
| Hindu | 10 |
| Old Mill | 7 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 7 |
| Unknown back | 105 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 10 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 127 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 66 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 8 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 16 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 81 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 49 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Red Ames card?
The Red Ames (Portrait) 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 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 888 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 5 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. 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.