Henderson, Pitcher, Pittsburgh, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the golden age of baseball with *Henderson, Pitcher Pittsburgh*, a captivating albumen print photograph from Goodwin & Company's iconic Old Judge Cigarettes series, in 1888. This cabinet card captures Charles "Charlie" Henderson, a star pitcher for the Pittsburgh Alleghys—one of the National League's founding teams—in a formal portrait that exudes the era's athletic poise. Measuring 6½ x 4⅜ inches, it's a snapshot of early professional baseball, when the sport was exploding in popularity across America. Issued as promotional inserts in Old Judge cigarette packs, these cards were among the first mass-produced baseball trading cards, revolutionizing fan culture and athlete celebrity. Goodwin & Company, a New York tobacco firm, photographed hundreds of players, creating a visual archive of the 1880s diamond greats. The albumen process, using egg-white sensitized paper, delivered the rich, detailed tones that made these images enduring keepsakes, blending photography's precision with ephemera's accessibility. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights how commerce and sport intertwined, turning everyday smokers into collectors and preserving baseball's roots for generations. A delightful glimpse into Victorian-era 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...