George Silas Haddock, Pitcher, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This photograph of George Silas Haddock, a pitcher for the Washington Nationals, was printed by Goodwin & Company around 1889. The Old Judge series, as it was known, was distributed as trade cards inside cigarette packs. Printed using mass production techniques, these cards represent an intersection of burgeoning consumer culture, sports fandom, and photographic technology. Albumen paper, derived from egg whites, was the standard medium for photographic prints at the time, providing a glossy surface ideal for reproducing detail. This labor-intensive process reflects the era’s industrial expansion, where consumer goods were rapidly manufactured and distributed. The Old Judge series captures the growing popularity of baseball, immortalizing players like Haddock and connecting them to the burgeoning market for tobacco products. These cards not only promoted cigarette sales, but also contributed to the construction of baseball as a national spectacle. Examining this small card allows us to reflect on the relationship between photography, commerce, and leisure in the late 19th century, and how they shaped our understanding of both art and sport.