Charles W. Bennett, Baseball Player, from World's Champions, Series 1 (N28) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1887

This 1887 lithograph, "Charles W. Bennett, Baseball Player," is a card from Allen & Ginter's "World's Champions" series. The card features a close-up portrait of Charles Bennett, a player for the Detroit Wolverines, in his uniform with the team's name prominently displayed across his chest. These cards were distributed with Allen & Ginter cigarettes, marking the start of baseball card collecting. The image is a clear example of the chromolithographic printing techniques popular in the late 19th century. The image is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection and showcases the history of early American baseball.