Seery, Left Field, Indianapolis, 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
63.350.214.172.565
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the bustling world of 1887 baseball with *Seery, Left Field Indianapolis*, a gem from Goodwin & Company's Old Judge seriesN172), produced for Old Judge Cigarettes This tiny albumen photograph captures Mike "Chicken" Seery, outfielder for the Indianapolis Hoiers, in a poised portrait that embodies the era's rising sports mania. At just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, it was designed as a collectible insert in cigarette packs, sparking a trading frenzy among fans and marking one of the earliest mass-produced athlete cards. The Old Judge series revolutionized ephemera, featuring over 500 playe...
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...