McLaughlin, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century American baseball with *McLaughlin, from the Old Judge seriesN172)*, a tiny yet captivating albumen photograph produced by J. Wood for Goodwin & Company between 1887 and 1890. This pocket-sized portrait (just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches) captures the stern gaze of athlete McLaughlin, likely posed in his baseball uniform, embodying the era's growing obsession with the sport. Issued as inserts in Old Judge Cigarette packs, these cards were ingenious marketing tools that turned everyday smokers into collectors, blending tobacco promotion with sports fandom. Albumen prints, made by coating paper with egg whites and silver salts for sharp detail and rich tones, were the gold standard for photography at the time, making these ephemera both artistic and accessible. The Old Judge series stands out for its extensive documentation of early professional baseball players, preserving images of stars and journeymen alike during baseball's rise as America's pastime amid post-Civil War industrialization. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of American prints and cards—this unassuming card highlights how commercial photography democratized portraiture and fueled trading card culture, paving the way for modern memorabilia. A small artifact with a big story!