John E. "Scrappy" Carroll, Right Field, St. Paul Apostles, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the bustling world of 1880s America with this diminutive albumen photograph from & Company's *Old Judge* series (N172), a promotional insert for Old Judge Cigarettes Titled *John E. "Scrappy" Carroll, Right Field,. Paul Apostles*, it the poised portrait of a baseball player from the minor-league St. Paul Apostles team. At just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, this ephemera was designed for collectors to trade and cherish, fueling the early craze for baseball cards amid the sport's explosive rise in popularity. Produced in 1889, the image exemplifies albumen printing—a 19th-century technique using egg whites to create richly toned, detailed photographs on card stock. Goodwin & Company pioneered these sets, documenting hundreds of players and immortalizing baseball's pioneers. As part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, it highlights how everyday consumer products like cigarettes became vehicles for sports history and portraiture. This tiny treasure offers a window into Victorian-era fandom, where athletes like "Scrappy" Carroll were everyday heroes, blending photography, commerce, and America's pastime in one collectible gem.

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...