Sommers, Catcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the gritty glamour of 1880s baseball with *Sommers, Catcher, Chicago*, a gem from Goodwin & Company's Old Judge series (N172). Produced in 1889, this tiny albumen photograph—measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches—captures catcher Sommers of the Chicago team in a crisp portrait, likely posed in his uniform. These cards were tucked into Old Judge Cigarette packs as clever marketing ploys, sparking America's earliest baseball card craze and turning players into household names. Albumen prints, made by coating paper with egg whites sensitized to silver salts, were the gold standard for s...

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...