Ledell "Cannonball" Titcomb, Pitcher, New York, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This 1888 "Old Judge" baseball card, part of a series produced by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes, features a black and white portrait of Ledell "Cannonball" Titcomb, a pitcher for the New York team. Titcomb's name and position are printed at the bottom, along with the copyright information and the company name and location. The card itself is small, measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, making it a prime example of the popular "trade card" format of the late 19th century. These cards, often depicting athletes or other popular figures, were distributed as promotional items for a variety of products. This particular card is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.