1909–11 T206 Russ Ford
New York Highlanders · American League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Russ Ford is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Russ Ford, a member of the historic New York Highlanders (American League), and was printed in the 460 Only series, known with 10 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 975 examples have been graded, with only 18 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Russ Ford
Russell William Ford, born April 25, 1883, in Brandon, Manitoba, was the first Manitoba-born player to reach the majors. After years in the minors — Cedar Rapids in the Three-I League (from 1905) and Atlanta of the Southern Association — the right-hander debuted with the New York Highlanders (later Yankees) in 1909 and pitched for them through 1913. His weapon was the emery ball, which he discovered around 1908 after a warm-up throw scuffed on a wooden post; hiding a piece of emery board in his glove to rough up the ball, he disguised it as a spitter. The pitch produced one of history's great rookie seasons: in 1910 Ford went 26-6 with a 1.65 ERA, eight shutouts and 209 strikeouts, completing all 26 wins — a 26-victory AL rookie record that still stands. On July 19, 1910, he lost a no-hitter in the ninth on a misjudged fly ball, settling for a one-hitter. He followed with 22 wins in 1911, then jumped to Buffalo of the Federal League, going 21-6 (1.82) in 1914. Ford finished 100-71 with a 2.59 career ERA and 710 strikeouts, and was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. He is a genuine star among the T206 set's deadball pitchers, remembered as the emery ball's inventor.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (10)
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 | 562 | 15 | 46 | 65 | 127 | 123 | 112 | 74 |
| SGC | 413 | 3 | 15 | 46 | 72 | 86 | 83 | 108 |
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 1911 | 200 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 77 |
| Sweet Caporal | 69 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 43 |
| Tolstoi | 34 |
| Polar Bear | 20 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 16 |
| Hindu | 8 |
| El Principe de Gales | 8 |
| Cycle 1911 | 6 |
| Old Mill | 4 |
| Unknown back | 77 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1911 | 22 |
| Cycle 1911 | 5 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 2 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 7 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 3 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 140 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 16 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 57 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 129 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 32 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Russ Ford card?
The Russ Ford 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 Highlanders player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 10 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 975 examples of the Russ Ford have been graded, with only 18 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Russ Ford come with?
The Russ Ford is confirmed with 10 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Russ Ford 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 New York Highlanders 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 2026-08-28.