Nichols, Pitcher, Boston, from Mayo's Cut Plug Baseball series (N300) 1895

This is a baseball card from the "Mayo's Cut Plug" series, produced in 1895 by P.H. Mayo & Brother of Richmond, Virginia. The card depicts a portrait of pitcher "Nichols" from the Boston baseball team, a popular form of collectible in the late 19th century. The card is printed in sepia tones with a white border and a black border framing the bottom of the image, which depicts the player in his uniform with the word "BOSTON" emblazoned on his jersey. These types of cards were often distributed with the purchase of tobacco, and represent a historical snapshot of the intersection of sports, advertising, and popular culture. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this card in its collection.