Johnston, Center Field, Boston, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a baseball card from the “Old Judge” series of trading cards produced by Goodwin & Company in 1888. It features centerfielder, “Johnston” from the Boston baseball team. The card is a black and white photograph printed on a card stock sheet and features the player in a baseball uniform, holding a baseball in his right hand. The card is in the style of a typical trading card with text along the bottom that identifies the player, team, and the name of the company that produced the cards, “Old Judge Cigarettes.” These cards were part of a promotional campaign for Old Judge Cigarettes, a brand of tobacco products that used trading cards to advertise its products and attract customers. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a notable institution that houses this artwork, reflecting the historical and cultural significance of these early baseball trading cards.