1909–11 T206 Wild Bill Donovan
Detroit Tigers · American League · 350 Only print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Wild Bill Donovan (“Throwing” 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 350 Only series, known with 8 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 948 examples have been graded, with only 26 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Wild Bill Donovan
"Wild Bill" Donovan was a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who debuted in the National League with Washington in 1898, then pitched for Brooklyn (1899-1902) before spending the heart of his career with the Detroit Tigers from 1903 to 1912. A 25-game winner in both leagues, he first led the NL with 25 victories for Brooklyn in 1901. His finest season came in 1907, when he went 25-4 with a 2.19 ERA and led the American League with an .862 winning percentage, anchoring a Tigers staff that captured three straight pennants (1907-1909). Donovan started six World Series games across those three Fall Classics, but Detroit lost all three and his personal Series mark was 1-4. He earned the nickname "Wild Bill" early on for his erratic control and fiery temper, though sportswriters also called the genial star "Smiling Bill." He finished with roughly 185 wins and a 2.69 ERA, later managed the New York Yankees (1915-1917) and Philadelphia Phillies (1921), and died in the Twentieth Century Limited train wreck on December 9, 1923. He is not in the Hall of Fame, but as a Deadball-era Tigers ace and teammate of Ty Cobb he is a recognizable name in the landmark T206 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (8)
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 | 603 | 23 | 47 | 82 | 129 | 106 | 114 | 102 |
| SGC | 345 | 3 | 12 | 47 | 49 | 78 | 67 | 89 |
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 1910 | 354 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 66 |
| Sweet Caporal | 36 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 19 |
| Cycle 1910 | 9 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 9 |
| Tolstoi | 5 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 3 |
| Unknown back | 102 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 4 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 3 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 220 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 14 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 98 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Wild Bill Donovan card?
The Wild Bill Donovan (Throwing) 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 8 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 948 examples of the Wild Bill Donovan have been graded, with only 26 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 8 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. 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.
Other poses of Wild Bill Donovan
More Detroit Tigers 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.