John Joseph "Joe" Gerhardt, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This cabinet card, created by Goodwin & Company between 1887 and 1890, features a portrait of baseball player John Joseph "Joe" Gerhardt. The card is part of the “Old Judge” series, which was commissioned by Old Judge Cigarettes as a promotional tool. These cards, featuring prominent baseball players of the time, were popular collectors' items, and this example is a valuable piece of baseball history and an example of trade cards, a popular form of advertising in the late 19th century.