David L. "Dave" Orr, 1st Base, Cleveland, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step back to 1888 with this petite albumen photograph from Goodwin & Company's iconic Old Judge (N172), a promotional insert for Old Judge Cigarettes.itled *David L. "Dave Orr, 1st Base, Cleveland*, it captures the mustachioed first baseman in his uniform, poised as a star of early professional baseball. Measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, this ephemera card was designed for collectors, fueling a craze among fans during baseball's explosive rise as America's pastime. The Old Judge series, produced by the Goodwin tobacco company, featured over 500 players in candid poses, revolutionizing sports photography with its albumen process—egg whites coated with light-sensitive silver salts for sharp, detailed prints on thin paper stock. These affordable cards democratized athlete imagery, blending advertising savvy with visual storytelling at a time when photography was still a novelty. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights baseball's cultural footprint and the ephemera's artistic merit. Dave Orr, a gritty infielder, embodies the era's athletic heroes, reminding us how such tiny treasures preserve the thrill of 19th-century diamond drama.

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...