James M. "Jim" Burns, Center Field, Kansas City Cowboys, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888 - 1889

This is a baseball card from the Old Judge series, printed between 1888 and 1889 to promote Old Judge Cigarettes. The card features James M. "Jim" Burns, a center fielder for the Kansas City Cowboys, a professional baseball team. It was produced by Goodwin & Company, a company that specialized in lithographic prints and illustrations. The card is a simple black and white photograph of Burns, dressed in his uniform, holding his glove, and standing on a plain background. The card is a good example of early baseball card design and provides a glimpse into the early days of professional baseball. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses this work.