James B. "Jim" Donnelly, 3rd Base, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step back to 1887 with this diminutive gem from the Metropolitan Museum of Art: a portrait of James B. "Jim Donnelly, third baseman for the Washington Nationals produced by Goodwin & Company as part of their iconic Old Judge series (N). Measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, this albumen photograph—printed on paper using a light-sensitive egg white emulsion—was a promotional insert tucked into Old Judge Cigarette packs. Its crisp detail and warm sepia tones capture Donnelly's poised athleticism, embodying the era's fascination with emerging sports heroes. In the late 19th century, as professional baseball exploded in popularity across America, tobacco companies like Goodwin pioneered trading cards to entice collectors and boost sales. The Old Judge series stands out as one of the earliest and most comprehensive baseball card sets, featuring hundreds of players in formal poses that blurred the line between photography and ephemera. Albumen prints, the gold standard for affordable reproductions then, allowed mass production while preserving photographic realism— a clever fusion of art and commerce. Housed in the Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this card highlights baseball's cultural ascent from sandlots to national pastime, immortalizing unsung athletes like Donnelly amid the Gilded Age's sporting fervor. A tiny window into America's growing love for the game!

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...