Robert Emmerke, Pitcher, Des Moines Prohibitionists, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century baseball with this charming albumen photograph from Goodwin & Company's Old Judge series (N172 produced in 1889. Titled *Robert Emmerke,er, Des Moines Prohibition*, it captures the stern gaze and poised stance of Emmerke, a key player for the Prohibitionists—a minor league team whose name nods to the era's growing temperance movement. Measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, this pocket-sized portrait was originally tucked into Old Judge cigarette packs as a promotional insert, blending advertising savvy with the rising popularity of America's pastime. These ephemera cards represent a pioneering moment in sports photography and collecting. Albumen prints, made by coating paper with egg whites and silver salts, delivered sharp, detailed images that brought players to life for fans far from the diamond. The Old Judge series, issued by the Goodwin tobacco firm, stands out for its high-quality portraits, documenting hundreds of athletes during baseball's professional boom in the late 1880s. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this card highlights how everyday objects preserved cultural history. It's a tiny window into Gilded Age fandom, where tobacco tins fueled dreams of the national 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...