Samuel J. "Skyrocket" Smith, 1st Base, Louisville Colonels, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the golden age of baseball with this diminutive yet captivating albumen photograph from Goodwin & Company's Old Judge series (N172), between 1887 and 1890. Titled *Samuel J. "Sky" Smith, 1st Base, Louisville Colonels it features the poised portrait of Smith, a first baseman for the Colonels—a team in the rival American Association league during baseball's early professional boom. At just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, this cigarette card was tucked into Old Judge Cigarette packs, transforming everyday tobacco products into portals to America's pastime. Albumen prints, made by coating paper with egg whites sensitized to silver salts, were the pinnacle of 19th-century photography, yielding rich tones and fine detail ideal for mass reproduction. Goodwin & Company pioneered these cards, issuing thousands depicting players in action poses or studio portraits, fueling the explosive growth of baseball fandom and collecting. "Skyrocket" Smith earned his nickname for his speedy base-running, embodying the era's athletic grit. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of ephemera gifted in 1961—this card highlights how everyday objects preserved sports history. It bridges art, commerce, and culture, reminding us how a tiny image immortalized heroes of yesteryear.

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...