August H. "Gus" Krock, Pitcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes
Medium
Albumen photograph
Dimensions
sheet: 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 in. (6.9 x 3.5 cm)
Classification
Photographs|Ephemera
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, Gift of Jefferson R. Burdick
Accession Number
63.350.214.172.419
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century baseball with this petite albumen photograph from the Judge series (N172 produced by Goodwin & Company 1888. Titled *August H. "Gus" Krock, Pitch, Chicago*, it captures Chicago White Stockings hurler in a formal portrait pose, emblematic of the era's emerging sports heroes. These cards, measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, were tucked into Old Judge Cigarette packs as promotional inserts, blending tobacco marketing with the growing national pastime. The Old Judge series marked a golden age for baseball ephemera, featuring over 500 players in high-...
About the Artist
Goodwin & Company · 1850–1950
**Goodwin & Company (ca. 1850–1950)** Goodwin & Company, originally established as E. Goodwin and Brother before the American Civil War, emerged as a prominent New York City-based tobacco manufacturer in the mid-19th century. Operating from the bustling heart of Manhattan, the firm built its reputation on popular cigarette brands such as Gypsy Queen and, most notably, Old Judge, which became syno...