Samuel J. "Skyrocket" Smith, 1st Base, Louisville Colonels, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This 19th century baseball card features Samuel J. "Skyrocket" Smith, a first baseman for the Louisville Colonels, in a dynamic pose. The black and white photograph captures him in the act of fielding a ball, illustrating the exciting nature of the sport. Created by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes, this card exemplifies the era's growing interest in baseball as a popular pastime. The card, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, is a small but significant example of early sports memorabilia and the visual culture of 19th-century America.