Hines, Center Field, Indianapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century American sports culture with *Hines, Center Field Indianapolis*, a diminutive yet captivating albumen photograph from Goodwin & Company's Old Judge seriesN172), issued in 1889 to promote Old Judge Cigarettes This tiny card—measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches—features a formal portrait of baseball player Hines the center fielder for the Indianapolis team, capturing poised intensity of early professional athletes amid the sport's explosive rise as a national obsession. Produced using the albumen printing process, popular for its sharp detail and rich sepia tones derived from egg whites, this ephemera exemplifies how tobacco companies pioneered modern trading cards. Inserted into cigarette packs, these collectibles democratized celebrity imagery, fueling baseball's fandom and preserving fleeting moments of athletic history. As part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of vintage cards gifted in 1962—this piece highlights the intersection of commerce, photography, and leisure in Gilded Age America. Imagine flipping through a pack of smokes to uncover a slice of glory: Hines embodies the era's stars, whose likenesses turned everyday smokers into armchair enthusiasts. A charming window into baseball's roots!

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...