Samuel Leech Maskrey, Right Field, Des Moines Prohibitionists, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step back to the diamond of 1888 with this captivating albumen photograph from Goodwin & Company's Old Judge seriesN172), a promotional cigarette card featuring Samuel Leech Maskrey, fielder for the Des Prohibitionists. At just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, this pocket-sized portrait captures Maskrey in his baseball uniform, embodying the grit and growing stardom of America's pastime during its professional boom in the late 19th. Produced by the tobacco company to entice smokers, these cards were among the earliest mass-distributed images of athletes, blending commerce with sports fandom. The Old J...

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...