William Frederick "Bill" Krieg, Catcher, Minneapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This 1888 baseball card from the "Old Judge" series features William Frederick "Bill" Krieg, a catcher for the Minneapolis team. Created by Goodwin & Company, the card depicts Krieg in a classic baseball pose, catching a ball in mid-air. The card's monochrome aesthetic and simple design are characteristic of the late 19th century. The "Old Judge" series, famous for its depiction of baseball players, was distributed with Old Judge Cigarettes. The card's small size, measuring just over 2 inches by 1 inch, reflects the typical format of trading cards in that era. Today, this card is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, showcasing a piece of baseball history and the early days of trading cards.