Lynch, Mets, from the Kalamazoo Bats series (N690) issued by Chas. Gross & Co. to promote Kalamazoo Bats

Art Historical Context

This 1887 albumen photograph captures Lynch, a player for the New York Metropolitans—commonly known as the Mets—during the early years of professional baseball. Issued by Chas. Gross & Co. as part of the Kalamazoo Bats series (N690), the card promoted the company’s wooden bats while serving as one of the first widely distributed baseball trading cards. At just 4 by 2¼ inches, it reflects the growing popularity of the sport and the emerging culture of fan memorabilia in late-19th-century America. The image was produced using the albumen process, a photographic technique that allowed sharp deta...