O'Brien, Catcher, Brooklyn, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This is a baseball card from the "Old Judge" series, created by Goodwin & Company between 1887-1890. The card features a portrait of O'Brien, a center fielder for the Brooklyn baseball team, in a realistic photographic style. The card was likely given away with purchases of Old Judge Cigarettes, reflecting the popular trend of using sports figures in advertising. The card is a good example of late 19th-century American printmaking and the growing interest in professional baseball.