Charles Louis "Chief" Zimmer, Catcher, Cleveland, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1889

This is a baseball card from the "Old Judge" series, produced by Goodwin & Company between 1887 and 1889 to promote Old Judge cigarettes. The card depicts Charles Louis "Chief" Zimmer, a catcher for the Cleveland team. The black and white photograph, likely a cabinet card, shows Zimmer in his uniform, catching a ball. The card is a prime example of early baseball trading cards, which were a popular collectible in the late 19th century. These cards featured portraits of popular players, helping to spread the popularity of the sport. This card, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides insight into the history of both baseball and the marketing of tobacco products.