Edward James "Big Ed" Delahanty, 2nd Base, Philadelphia, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the golden age of baseball with this petite albumen photograph from Goodwin & Company's iconic Old Judge series (N), produced between 1887 and 1890. Titled *Edward James "Big Ed Delahanty, 2nd Base, Philadelphia*, captures the towering slugger—known for his power hitting and versatility—in a crisp portrait, emblematic of early professional sports stardom. Measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, this ephemera was tucked into Old Judge cigarette packs as a promotional insert, sparking a collecting frenzy among fans and fueling baseball's rise as America's pastime. The albumen process, using egg-white-coated paper sensitized with silver salts, lent these cards their sharp detail and subtle sheen, making them prized artifacts despite their humble origins. Goodwin & Company issued thousands of such player portraits, documenting the raw athleticism of the era's stars like Delahanty, a Hall of Famer who terrorized National League pitchers. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece bridges photography, print culture, and sports history, reminding us how tobacco marketing immortalized heroes on cardboard. Today, it whispers of 19th-century fandom: a tiny token that turned everyday smokers into archivists, preserving the faces of legends for generations.

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...