M.E. Baldwin, Pitcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This 1887 - 1890 chromolithograph depicts the baseball player M.E. Baldwin, a pitcher for the Chicago White Stockings. This is one of a series of 50 cards known as the "Old Judge" series, created by Goodwin & Company and distributed with Old Judge Cigarettes. The card was printed on a small, rectangular sheet of paper, likely as a marketing tool for the cigarette brand. This image exemplifies the early use of sports trading cards as a popular form of advertising.