Jim McCormick, Pitcher, Pittsburgh, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

This charming albumen photograph captures Jim McCormick, star pitcher for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys (precursors to the Pirates), posed confidently in his uniform. Produced by Goodwin & Company in 1887 as part of the iconic Old Judge series (N172 it served as a promotional insert in Old Judge Cigarette packs. Measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, these diminutive cards were collectibles designed for trading, offering fans intimate portraits of baseball's early heroes during the sport's explosive rise in popularity. The Old Judge series, spanning 1886–1890, revolutionized sports memorabilia with over 500 player images, blending photography's precision with ephemera culture. Albumen prints, made by coating paper with egg whites and silver salts, delivered sharp, luminous details ideal for mass reproduction— a technical marvel of the era before modern color printing. McCormick's card exemplifies how tobacco companies fueled baseball's growth, turning athletes into household names amid America's Gilded Age pastime boom. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this artifact bridges art, sports, and commerce, reminding us how everyday objects preserved 19th-century icons. A tiny window into baseball's formative years!

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...