Shindle, 3rd Base, Baltimore Orioles, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the golden age of baseball with *Shindle, 3rd Base, Baltimore Orioles a gem from Goodwin & Company's iconic Old Judge series (N), issued in 1888. This petite albumen photograph captures Taylorindle, the skilled third baseman for the Baltimoreoles, in a crisp portrait that exemplifies early sports photography. Measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, it was designed as an insert for Old Judge Cigarettes packs, blending tobacco promotion with the era's booming national pastime. Albumen prints, the dominant photographic medium of the 19th century, lent these cards their rich tones and fine detail, making player likenesses instantly recognizable to fans. The Old Judge series stands out as one of the earliest and most comprehensive baseball card sets, featuring hundreds of major and minor league athletes and preserving a visual record of the sport's professionalization in the 1880s. Today, housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of ephemera gifted by the pioneering collector—this card highlights baseball's cultural ascent and the innovative marketing that fueled its fandom. A tiny window into Gilded Age America, it reminds us how everyday objects immortalized sports heroes.

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...