Samuel J. "Skyrocket" Smith, 1st Base, Louisville Colonels, 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
63.350.215.172.1372
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century baseball with this tiny gem: a portrait of Samuel J. "Skyrocket Smith, first baseman for the Louisville Colon. Produced in 1888 by Goodwin & as part of the Old Judge series (N172 this albumen photograph was tucked into packs of Old Judge Cigarettes sparking the early craze for baseball cards among fans and collectors. Measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, the card captures Smith's determined gaze and athletic poise in a classic studio pose, emblematic of the era's ephemera. Albumen prints, made with egg-white-coated paper for sharp detail and warm ...
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...