1909-11 T206 Joe Lake (St. Louis - No Ball)
1909–11 T206 Joe Lake
St Louis Browns · American League · 350-460 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Joe Lake (“St. Louis - No Ball” 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 350-460 series, known with 12 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 904 examples have been graded, with only 20 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 (12)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 549 | 16 | 34 | 65 | 130 | 114 | 109 | 81 |
| SGC | 355 | 4 | 6 | 36 | 65 | 94 | 66 | 84 |
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 | 71 |
| Piedmont | 63 |
| Sweet Caporal | 62 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 60 |
| Polar Bear | 49 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 34 |
| Old Mill | 26 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 24 |
| Tolstoi | 17 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 17 |
| El Principe de Gales | 9 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 7 |
| Uzit | 5 |
| American Beauty | 5 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 5 |
| Cycle 1911 | 4 |
| Lenox | 2 |
| Drum | 2 |
| Unknown back | 87 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 14 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 7 |
| Cycle 1911 | 2 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 4 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 2 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 14 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 89 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 32 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 54 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 19 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 76 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 28 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 11 |
| Uzit 1909-11 | 3 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Joe Lake card?
The Joe Lake (St. Louis - No Ball) 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 12 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 904 examples of the Joe Lake have been graded, with only 20 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 12 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, Drum, 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.