1909-11 T206 Joe Lake (New York)
1909–11 T206 Joe Lake
New York Highlanders · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Joe Lake (“New York” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Joe Lake, a member of the historic New York Highlanders (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 838 examples have been graded, with only 24 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Joe Lake
Born 1881 in Brooklyn, NY (d. 1950), Joe Lake was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1908 and played 6 major-league seasons. He went 62-90 with a 2.85 ERA and 594 strikeouts across 199 appearances.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 493 | 18 | 33 | 52 | 135 | 93 | 103 | 59 |
| SGC | 345 | 6 | 9 | 38 | 60 | 82 | 58 | 92 |
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 | 124 |
| Piedmont | 83 |
| Sweet Caporal | 78 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 64 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 23 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 19 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 14 |
| Hindu | 6 |
| Old Mill | 4 |
| Unknown back | 78 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 8 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 3 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 154 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 30 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 12 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 104 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 33 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Joe Lake card?
The Joe Lake (New York) 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 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 838 examples of the Joe Lake have been graded, with only 24 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Joe Lake come with?
The Joe Lake 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 Joe Lake 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.