Seery, Left Field, Indianapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the bustling world of 1887 baseball with *Seery, Left Field Indianapolis*, a gem from Goodwin & Company's Old Judge seriesN172), produced for Old Judge Cigarettes This tiny albumen photograph captures Mike "Chicken" Seery, outfielder for the Indianapolis Hoiers, in a poised portrait that embodies the era's rising sports mania. At just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, it was designed as a collectible insert in cigarette packs, sparking a trading frenzy among fans and marking one of the earliest mass-produced athlete cards. The Old Judge series revolutionized ephemera, featuring over 500 players in crisp albumen prints—egg-white-coated paper that yielded sharp, detailed images ideal for small formats. Goodwin & Company, a New York tobacco firm, cleverly merged advertising with fandom during baseball's professional boom in the National League. These cards offer a vivid snapshot of 19th-century American culture, where sports heroes hawked smokes amid growing public obsession with the game. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights photography's pivot from studio art to commercial icon. A delightful window into Gilded Age leisure, it reminds us how everyday objects immortalized legends like Seery. (198 words)

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...