C.E. Hoover, Catcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This is a baseball card from the "Old Judge" series, created in 1887 by Goodwin & Company as a promotional item for Old Judge Cigarettes. The card features a portrait of C.E. Hoover, a catcher for the Chicago baseball team, in a classic baseball pose. This particular card, like others in the series, was printed using the "carte de visite" photographic technique, a popular method for creating portraits in the late 19th century.