Alexander Bennett "Ben" Sanders, Pitcher, Philadelphia, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This 1888 baseball card from the "Old Judge" series depicts Alexander Bennett "Ben" Sanders, a pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics. Printed by Goodwin & Company in New York, the card features a photographic portrait of Sanders in mid-pitch. The black and white image showcases his uniform with the team name "PHILA" prominently displayed, a classic example of early baseball card design. The card is a part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection and measures 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches. These cards were distributed with "Old Judge" cigarettes, a popular marketing strategy of the era, contributing to the card's historical significance in the evolution of baseball memorabilia.