Samuel J. "Skyrocket" Smith, 1st Base, Louisville Colonels, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes
1887–90
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
63.350.215.172.1371
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the golden age of baseball with this diminutive yet captivating albumen photograph from Goodwin & Company's Old Judge series (N172), between 1887 and 1890. Titled *Samuel J. "Sky" Smith, 1st Base, Louisville Colonels it features the poised portrait of Smith, a first baseman for the Colonels—a team in the rival American Association league during baseball's early professional boom. At just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, this cigarette card was tucked into Old Judge Cigarette packs, transforming everyday tobacco products into portals to America's pastime. Albumen prints, made by coating paper...
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...