Elmer Ellsworth "Mike" Smith, Pitcher, Cincinnati, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a baseball card from the Old Judge series created by Goodwin & Company in 1888, featuring Elmer Ellsworth "Mike" Smith, a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. These cards were given away with packages of Old Judge Cigarettes and were popular amongst collectors of the time. The card is a black and white photograph depicting Smith in his baseball uniform, holding a baseball in his glove. This card is now part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Old Judge series, featuring both players and managers of the time, are an important artifact in the history of baseball and its cultural impact.