1909-11 T206 Wild Bill Donovan (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Wild Bill Donovan
Detroit Tigers · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Wild Bill Donovan (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Wild Bill Donovan, a member of the historic Detroit Tigers (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 865 examples have been graded, with only 17 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Wild Bill Donovan
Born 1876 in Lawrence, MA (d. 1923), Wild Bill Donovan was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1898 and played 18 major-league seasons. He went 186-139 with a 2.69 ERA and 1,552 strikeouts across 378 appearances.
Confirmed backs (6)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 526 | 14 | 28 | 58 | 127 | 87 | 118 | 94 |
| SGC | 339 | 3 | 8 | 39 | 56 | 69 | 58 | 106 |
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 1909 | 112 |
| Piedmont | 96 |
| Sweet Caporal | 65 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 51 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 31 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 23 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 22 |
| Old Mill | 13 |
| Hindu | 12 |
| El Principe de Gales | 12 |
| Unknown back | 89 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 13 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 11 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 4 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 164 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 34 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 16 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 67 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 2 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 28 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Wild Bill Donovan card?
The Wild Bill Donovan (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 Detroit Tigers player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 865 examples of the Wild Bill Donovan have been graded, with only 17 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Wild Bill Donovan come with?
The Wild Bill Donovan is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Wild Bill Donovan 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.