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.

St. Louis' Joe Lake has a ball in his hand in this example with a Polar Bear back, graded Good 2 by SGC due to some rounded corners and light surface abrasions which caused a spot of paper loss.