Decker, Catcher, Philadelphia, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This is a sepia-toned photograph of a baseball player in a throwing pose, a classic collectible from the late 19th century. The image of catcher "Decker" was part of the "Old Judge" series of baseball cards produced by Goodwin & Company in the late 1800s as a promotional piece for Old Judge Cigarettes. The card features the player's name and team, "Philadelphia (N.L.)", at the bottom. The image is now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, a testament to the enduring appeal of these early baseball cards and their role in documenting the history of the sport.