Charles Marv "Pop" Smith, Shortstop, Pittsburgh, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen 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
63.350.214.172.969
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the golden age of baseball with this diminutive yet captivating albumen photograph from 1887, featuring Charles Marv "Pop", the agile shortstop for the Pittsburghenys. Produced by & Company as part of the iconic Old Judge series (N172 this card was tucked into packs of Old Judge and Gypsy cigarettes, transforming everyday tobacco into a gateway for sports fandom and collecting. At just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, its intimate scale belies its role as a treasured artifact from baseball's formative years. In the late 19th century, professional baseball was exploding in popularity amid Ame...
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...