1909-11 T206 Russ Ford
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
Born 1883 in Brandon, MB (d. 1960), Russ Ford was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1909 and played 7 major-league seasons. He went 99-71 with a 2.59 ERA and 710 strikeouts across 199 appearances.
Confirmed backs (10)
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 the T206
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.