William C. Crossley, Catcher, Milwaukee, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the batter's box of 19th-century baseball history with this charming albumen photograph cigarette card featuring William C. Crossley, the skilled catcher for the Milwaukee Brew. Produced in 1889 by Goodwin Company as part of their iconic Old Judge series (N172 this tiny portrait—measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches—captures Crossley in his uniform, poised and professional. These cards were tucked into packs of Old Judge Cigarettes, turning everyday smokes into collectibles that fueled America's growing obsession with the national pastime. The Old Judge series stands out for its pioneering use of high-quality albumen prints, a wet-collodion process yielding sharp, detailed images on paper coated with egg whites. Issued during baseball's explosive early professional era, when teams like Milwaukee competed in the American Association, these cards preserved portraits of over 500 players, offering invaluable snapshots of athletes as emerging celebrities. Goodwin & Company's innovative marketing blended tobacco promotion with sports fandom, laying the groundwork for modern trading cards. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of ephemera gifted by the legendary collector—this card highlights baseball's cultural ascent and the artistry of everyday objects. It's a pocket-sized portal to an era when heroes were immortalized one puff at a time.

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...