Billie Nash, 3rd Base, Boston, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This 19th-century "baseball card" features Billie Nash, a third baseman for the Boston Beaneaters, holding a ball in his left hand. Part of the "Old Judge" series of cards, this card was created by Goodwin & Company to promote Old Judge cigarettes. The card is a photographic print, produced using the carte de visite process, which was a popular method for capturing images of individuals in the 19th century. The image of the card includes a small biography of the player as well as a copyright notice and the Old Judge Cigarettes trademark. This card, part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, provides a glimpse into the history of baseball and the ways that companies marketed their products in the late 19th century.