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.

Waco's Tony Thebo awaits a ball to drop into his outstretched hands in front of a fiery yellow and orange sky with a green grass background. Lots of gorgeous color in this one, with Thebo's cap, collar, sleeves, and belt all a deep, dark red. Centering is northwest on the canvas, with some minor diamond cutting which leaves the top left corner just a hair higher than the right. Corners and edges match the grade, with some light tobacco soiling around the perimeter. The Piedmont back has some more staining and soiling, though the printing remains dark and bold.

Among the more popular subsets in the T206 issue, Southern League (SL) cards are lauded for their scarcity. The cards of 48 players from the Southern Association, the South Atlantic League, the Texas League, and the Virginia State League were printed in total. These cards were printed separately from the rest of the T206 cards, resulting in a shorter supply than other T206s, and creating a high demand among collectors.