Irwin, 3rd Base, Washington, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the early days of America's pastime with *Irwin, 3rd Base, Washington*, a captivating 1888 albumen print photograph from Goodwin & Company's *Old Judge Cigarettes*. This cabinet card captures the poised portrait of Irwin, a third baseman for the Washington baseball team, embodying the grit and grace of 19th-century athletes. Produced by the tobacco company as promotional inserts in cigarette packs, these cards were among the first mass-produced baseball photographs, turning players into household names and fueling the sport's rising popularity. The albumen printing process, a hallmark of the era, yields rich tonal depth and fine detail on its 6½ × 4⅜-inch sheet, making it a prime example of photographic ephemera. Cabinet cards like this one were affordable collectibles, bridging photography's artistic potential with everyday culture. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of sports memorabilia—this piece highlights baseball's evolution from amateur leagues to professional spectacle in the post-Civil War boom. Today, it reminds us how commerce and sport intertwined, preserving fleeting moments of athletic heroism for generations of fans.

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...