Sowders, Pitcher, Boston, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This 1887-1890 photograph by Goodwin & Company is a trading card from the "Old Judge" series for Old Judge Cigarettes. It depicts "Sowders, P, Bostons," a baseball player in a classic, turn-of-the-century pose. The image is a simple but iconic representation of 19th-century baseball, a pastime which was rapidly gaining popularity in America. This small-scale, black and white photograph is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York City.