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
63.350.214.172.421
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century baseball with this petite albumen photograph from Goodwin & Company's iconic Old Judge series (N), produced in 1888. Titled *August H. "Gus" Krock, Pitch, Chicago*, it captures the Chicago team's star hurler in a formal studio pose, emblematic of the era's athletic heroes. Measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, this card originally tucked into packs of Old Judge Cigarettes a promotional insert, sparking the collecting craze that endures today. These cards hold immense historical significance as some of the earliest mass-produced images of profession...
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...