Edward Hugh "Ned" Hanlon, Center Field, Detroit Wolverines, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This 1887 baseball card, created by Goodwin & Company, features Detroit Wolverines center fielder Edward Hugh "Ned" Hanlon. Part of the "Old Judge" series of baseball cards produced by Goodwin & Company to promote Old Judge Cigarettes, the card shows Hanlon in a relaxed pose, holding his bat. The card is a prime example of early baseball card collecting, featuring simple monochrome photography and an elegant design typical of the period. The card's small size, measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, speaks to the emerging hobby of collecting baseball cards, a now-ubiquitous form of sports memorabilia.