1909-11 T206 Joe Lake (St. Louis - Ball In Hand)
1909–11 T206 Joe Lake
St Louis Browns · American League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Joe Lake (“St. Louis - Ball In Hand” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Joe Lake, a member of the historic St Louis Browns (American League), and was printed in the 460 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 848 examples have been graded, with only 16 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 (11)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 524 | 12 | 43 | 73 | 138 | 104 | 92 | 62 |
| SGC | 324 | 4 | 8 | 41 | 66 | 84 | 53 | 68 |
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 | 195 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 80 |
| Sweet Caporal | 53 |
| Polar Bear | 21 |
| Old Mill | 20 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 20 |
| Tolstoi | 13 |
| Lenox | 6 |
| El Principe de Gales | 6 |
| Cycle 1911 | 5 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 3 |
| Uzit | 1 |
| Unknown back | 101 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1911 | 1 |
| Cycle 1911 | 5 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 10 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 5 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 18 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 123 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 25 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 17 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 106 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 12 |
| Uzit 1909-11 | 2 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Joe Lake card?
The Joe Lake (St. Louis - Ball In Hand) 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 St Louis Browns player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 848 examples of the Joe Lake have been graded, with only 16 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 11 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Uzit. 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.