Philip Louis "Phil" Knell, Pitcher, St. Joseph Clay Eaters, 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
63.350.215.172.1618
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the golden age of baseball with this diminutive yet captivating albumen photograph from 1889, featuring Louis "Phil" Kn, the skilled pitcher for the St. Joseph Clay Eaters Produced by Goodwin & Company part of the iconic Old Judge series (N172 for Old Judge Cigarettes this 2 11/16 x 1 3/8-inch card captures Knell in a poised portrait, embodying the grit and grace of 19th-century athletics. Tucked into cigarette packs as promotional inserts, these cards fueled America's burgeoning passion for baseball collecting, transforming everyday smokers into avid fans and archivists. The albume...
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...