John A. "Cub" Stricker, 2nd Base, Cleveland, 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
63.350.215.172.1227
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 1880s baseball with this intimate albumen photograph of John A. "Cub" Stricker, Cleveland's agile second baseman. Produced by Goodwin & Company in 1889 as part of the iconic Old Judge series (N172), this pocket-sized portrait (just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches) captures Stricker's focused gaze and athletic poise, embodying the era's rising sports heroes. These cards were clever promotional inserts in Old Judge Cigarette packs, among the earliest baseball trading cards that fueled the sport's explosion as America's pastime. The Old Judge series stands out for documenti...
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...