The first series of cards in the T206 set were issued beginning in 1909 in cigarette and loose tobacco packs through 16 different brands owned by the American Tobacco Company. It is a landmark set in the history of baseball card collecting due to its size and rarity, with cards of over 500 major and minor-league players issued in the set through 1911. It is known informally as the "White Border" set due to the distinctive white borders surrounding the quality color lithographs on each card.

There are two different Fred Merkle cards included in the T206 set. One is a portrait, and this version depicts the young First Baseman after finishing his throwing motion in the field. Each are equally rare, but this is the more visually interesting. Merkle, in his white New York uniform and black cap, is pictured in front of a gorgeous blue sky with clouds, while a dark blue stadium grandstand and green grass complete the image. Centering is southwest on the canvas, with corners and edges consistent to the grade. A crease runs the width of the card horizontally at Merkle's chest level, keeping it from grading even higher than it already has. The tough Sovereign back is bright and clean, with centering east on the reverse. A very tough example of one of baseball's most tragic figures.

SGC has only ever graded 27 total examples of this T206 with a Sovereign back, with only nineteen receiving a higher grade than the Good 2 offered here of New York's Fred Merkle throwing.