Swartwood, Right Field, Brooklyn, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

This albumen photograph from the Old Judge series (N172) captures Harry Swartwood, a right fielder for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, as one of the earliest-produced baseball cards. Issued Goodwin & Company between1887 and 189 to promote Old Judge Cigarettes, the diminutive card—measuring just 2 11/16 by 1 3/8 inches—features a studio portrait of the athlete in his uniform, reflecting the growing popularity of professional baseball during the sport’s formative years. Albumen prints like this one were the standard photographic process of the era, prized for their sharp detail and tonal range despite their small scale. These cards served as both advertising ephemera and collectible souvenirs, tucked into cigarette packages to appeal to fans. They mark an important intersection of photography, commerce, and popular culture, transforming everyday athletes into recognizable public figures. Today, this piece belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, underscoring how such humble objects have gained lasting artistic and historical value as early examples of sports memorabilia and photographic portraiture.

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...