Charles Marv "Pop" Smith, Shortstop, Pittsburgh, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the golden age of baseball with this diminutive yet captivating albumen photograph from 1887, featuring Charles Marv "Pop", the agile shortstop for the Pittsburghenys. Produced by & Company as part of the iconic Old Judge series (N172 this card was tucked into packs of Old Judge and Gypsy cigarettes, transforming everyday tobacco into a gateway for sports fandom and collecting. At just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, its intimate scale belies its role as a treasured artifact from baseball's formative years. In the late 19th century, professional baseball was exploding in popularity amid America's industrial boom, and these cigarette cards captured the era's heroes in crisp, posed portraits—Smith's determined gaze and uniformed stance evoking the grit of early diamond stars. Albumen prints, made by coating paper with egg whites and silver salts, delivered the sharp detail and warm tones that made these cards irresistible to fans and kids alike, predating modern photography's dominance. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this ephemera highlights the intersection of commerce, sport, and portraiture. It reminds us how fleeting inserts fueled a collecting craze, preserving the faces of athletes like "Pop" Smith and bridging 1880s pastime with our enduring love for the game.

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...