Bill George, Pitcher, New York, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the bustling world of 1880s America with this charming albumen photograph cigarette card featuring Bill George, a pitcher for the New York Giants. Produced by Goodwin & Company as part of their iconic Old Judge series (N172), this tiny 2 11/16 x 1 3/8-inch portrait captures George in a poised, professional stance, emblematic of early baseball stardom. Issued in 1887, these cards were tucked into Old Judge cigarette packs, blending tobacco marketing with the era's exploding national pastime. The Old Judge series revolutionized sports ephemera, featuring over 1,700 unique player images in high-detail albumen prints—a wet-collodion process yielding rich tones and sharp clarity on paper supports. Baseball's rise from amateur sandlots to professional leagues made these affordable collectibles a sensation, fueling fan culture and player fame long before modern trading cards. Bill George, a reliable hurler in the National League, exemplifies the athletic heroes who bridged gritty 19th-century sports with emerging commercial iconography. Today, housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of American ephemera—this card highlights how everyday objects preserved cultural snapshots. It invites us to ponder baseball's enduring grip on the American imagination, from diamond dust to collector's gold.

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...