Alcott, 3rd Base, St. Louis Whites, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a baseball card from the "Old Judge" series featuring Charles Alcott, the third baseman for the St. Louis Whites. The card was produced by Goodwin & Company in 1888 as a promotional item for Old Judge Cigarettes. The black and white photograph shows Alcott standing with his hands on his hips in a baseball uniform with the word "St. Louis" clearly visible on his jersey. The card is a small, vertical rectangle that was intended to be collected by fans of the sport. It is currently part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This card is a great example of a popular form of ephemera from the late 19th century that helped to grow the popularity of both baseball and tobacco.