The 1889 N172 Old Judge tobacco card set was the first popular set of baseball cards ever produced. Published as a promotional incentive by the American Tobacco Company to boost sales of Old Judge tobacco, the cards featured 29 individual player portraits, most of whom were major leaguers at the time.
Issued between 1886-1890, the cards were included as premiums in packages of Old Judge tobacco. Each card measured approximately 2 inches by 3 inches and featured a black and white portrait of the player on one side with seasonal and career statistics printed on the reverse. A majority of the players depicted originated from either the National League or American Association, the two premiere professional leagues at the time. A few players from lesser circuits and independent teams were also included to appeal to local and amateur fans.
Some key details about the 1889 N172 Old Judge baseball card set:
Production and Distribution: Cards were produced in the late 1880s by the American Tobacco Company and included randomly in Old Judge tobacco products to boost sales. They were very popular premium collectibles during this early sports card boom period.
Players Included: A total of 29 different MLB players from the 1888 season were featured in the set, with the most notable being Hall of Famers Cap Anson, Buck Ewing, and Dan Brouthers. Others like Tony Mullane, George Bradley, and Pop Smith were among the era’s biggest stars at the time as well.
Design and Printing: Black and whiteplayer portraits were lithographically printed on thin card stock. Text with stats was printed on the reverse. Design was primitive compared to later card sets but captured the period and players accurately based on available photography.
Condition and Rarity: Very few high grade specimens exist today in collectible condition due to the fragile nature of the early pulp paper stock used and over 130 years of wear and tear. Even low-grade examples fetch high prices. Near mint samples are among the most valuable and scarce vintage cards.
Cultural Impact: The 1888 Old Judge issue introduced the novel concept of including sports players on tobacco wrappers and pioneered the trading card model that exploded in popularity in the 1890s. It is widely recognized as the first mass-produced and distributed set of sports trading cards in history.
Several factors contributed to the collectibility and lasting legacy of the 1889 N172 set. Chiefly, it was one of the earliest sports card sets ever produced and captured iconic stars from the late 1800s era at the very dawn of professional baseball’s popularity. Many of the players featured like Cap Anson, Dan Brouthers, and Buck Ewing went on to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and helped grow the young sport’s prominence.
The cards also showed details about game stats from that initial boom period that now provide historians a statistical window into how the game was played and records were kept in the 1800s. Facial recognition technology has even led to increased attribution of some of the more obscure player portraits to correct IDs. All of this adds to the fascinating historical record and meta-story captured within the fragile paper prints.
The scarcity of high grade specimens surviving 130+ years also exponentially increases prices for what was once a mere tobacco premium inclusion. Even damaged examples now command thousands due to their position as the first in a collectibles category that became a multi-billion dollar industry. One mint PSA GEM 10 1888 Old Judge Cap Anson card was famously auctioned by Sotheby’s in 2016 for $3.12 million, setting records for sports memorabilia and single card prices.
While production techniques and card stock materials were still primitive compared to later chromolithograph sets, the 1889 N172 baseball cards were hugely important as not just the first baseball cards, but as progenitors of the modern sports trading card industry. They provide a tangible connection to the earliest period of professional baseball and a glimpse at the 19th century superstars who helped grow America’s pastime. For these reasons, the Old Judge issues remain highly revered within the hobby and retain great cultural significance over 130 years since distribution.