Hardy Richardson, Left Field, Detroit, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the batter's box with *Hardy Richardson, Left, Detroit* (1887), a captivating albumen print photograph from Goodwin & Company's iconic Old Judge Cigarettes series This cabinet card captures Richardson, a star left fielder for the Detroit Wolver, in a poised portrait that exudes the grit and grace of 19th-century baseball. 6½ x 4⅜ inches, it's a pocket-sized window into America's pastime during its explosive early professional era—the Wolverines even clinched the 1887 World Series pennant. Produced by the New York-based Goodwin & Company, these cards were clever tobacco promotions, distributed in cigarette packs to hook collectors amid baseball's rising fervor. Old Judge issued thousands of player portraits from 1886–1890, blending photography with ephemera to immortalize athletes like Richardson, a versatile "do-it-all" player known for his hitting prowess. The albumen process—using egg whites for a glossy, richly toned surface—delivered sharp details that made these affordable cards both artistic and accessible. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights how commercial photography fueled sports culture and collecting. It's a charming artifact of Gilded Age innovation, where a simple smoke signaled fandom.

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...