Samuel "Cliff" Clifford Carroll, Left Field, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This 1887 "Old Judge" trading card, featuring Washington Nationals left fielder, Samuel "Cliff" Clifford Carroll, is a prime example of 19th-century baseball card art. Created by Goodwin & Company, the black and white image portrays Carroll in a classic baseball pose, holding his bat, ready to take a swing. The card is a small, yet detailed, portrayal of a pivotal moment in baseball history. The card is part of the N172 series and the "Old Judge" series was designed to be given away with Old Judge Cigarettes. This series was one of the earliest sets of collectible baseball cards. The card's small size (sheet: 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 in. (6.9 x 3.5 cm)) makes it a fascinating historical artifact and is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.