The 1887 Old Judge tobacco cards are considered some of the most historically significant collectibles in sports memorabilia. Produced as promotional inserts in packages of Old Judge tobacco, the 1887 series was the first dedicated set of baseball cards ever produced. While other tobacco companies had included baseball related illustrations on cards prior to 1887, the Old Judge set solely featured photos of professional ballplayers and were thus truly the first baseball cards. The 1887 Old Judge set paved the way for the modern baseball card collecting hobby and holds immense value both culturally and monetarily amongst collectors.

Old Judge tobacco was manufactured by the E.C. Simmons Medicine Company based out of St. Louis, Missouri. In 1887, the company decided to include small photographic trade or baseball cards with purchasers of their Old Judge smoking tobacco product as a promotional marketing ploy. Each tobacco package would contain 1 of 125 different trading cards featuring individual headshot photos of professional ballplayers from both the National League and American Association. Most cards had no statistics or biographical information on the reverse, only advertisement copy for Old Judge tobacco. The 1887 series is considered a landmark in both sports and collectibles history as they were essentially the birth of what we now know as modern trading cards.

While tobacco companies had previously included illustrations or drawings related to baseball in their products, the 1887 Old Judge set was distinguished by solely featuring actual photos of stars like “King” Kelly, “Orator” Jim O’Rourke, and “Pony” Joe starting catcher. In total, the 125 card checklist included members of all 12 major league teams from 1887. Not all the original cards are believed to still exist today. It’s estimated that only around 60 or so of the original 125 cards are known to have survived incollector grade condition over 135 years later. In addition to rarity and condition concerns, the cards are challenged by the lack of statistics and info on the back which has hampered identification and grading over time.

The 1887 Old Judge cards are true Americana collectibles reflecting baseball’s immense popularity in the post-Civil War era. By the late 1880s, professional baseball had grown from amateur status into a major commercial industry and new pastime enjoyed nationwide. Companies like E.C. Simmons aimed to profit off this baseball mania by including player photos meant for young fans and adults alike to swap, trade, and collect. Interestingly, the 1887 set came before the establishment of modern tobacco warning labels, reflecting a much different era. While the hazards of tobacco were recognized even then, cigarettes and other smoked products were still commonly marketed toward children through premiums like the Old Judge cards.

In the ensuing decades after 1887, other tobacco companies like Goodwin & Company and American Tobacco soon began distributing their own series of baseball cards to immense popularity. These developments truly launched the golden age of tobacco premium collectibles from the late 1880s through the early 20th century. The demand was driven both by adults who enjoyed the cigarettes as well as children seeking out the enclosed treats or prizes inside packs. Despite issues around targeting minors, the companies were successful in using cards to boost tobacco sales and imprint their brands upon a new generation. The burgeoning card collecting fad also helped fuel greater interest in the on-field product of professional baseball itself.

For over a century, the exquisite 1887 Old Judge cards have maintained their iconic status. Because of their tremendous rarity, condition challenges, and status as the first ever baseball cards, examples that surface at auction continue to shatter records when they do come up for sale. In 2016, a PSA NM-MT 8 graded example of the iconic “Cap Anson” card from the set sold for an astounding $350,000 USD through auction house Goldin. More recent big auction prices for 1887 OJs include a “Dan Brouthers” that sold in 2021 for over $312,000 USD. While not all of the original 125 cards have been identified or fully represented at the highest levels, those that remain captivate imaginations as pivotal artifacts of baseball collectibles origins. Researchers continue to review archives and private holdings in hopes of one day accounting for every player and image from this groundbreaking premiere venture.

In many ways, the success of the 1887 Old Judge Tobacco card inclusion was quite fortuitous for both E.C. Simmons Co. and the greater sport of baseball itself. By putting photos of star athletes in the hands of the public, their simple marketing tactic helped spark a nationwide boom in both baseball fandom and sports collectibles. While the health impacts of tobacco were not as fully understood, the Old Judge cards as a novelty shaped a new industry and cultural phenomena. Today, these exceedingly rare cards continue to fascinate historians, researchers and collectors alike for their tremendous historical significance. As the first ever dedicated baseball cards over 135 years ago, the 1887 Old Judge set will always have a revered place at the origins of our national pastime.