Login Sign Up Free
Defunct

Goodwin & Company

Goodwin & Company produced the N172 Old Judge set, the defining nineteenth-century baseball card issue.

1875–1890 United States New York, New York, USA
Sports cardsEntertainment & non-sportBaseball
Image gallery (6) Pre-grade a card
Joey Chestnut 2012 Goodwin Champions Baseball Card Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Champ
Joey Chestnut 2012 Goodwin Champions Baseball Card Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Champ

Goodwin & Company at a glance

Goodwin & Company produced the N172 Old Judge set, the defining nineteenth-century baseball card issue.

Full history, sources and grading notes below. Last verified · Published · Confidence: Medium

Company history

Old Judge and the N172 set[1][2]

Goodwin & Company used its Old Judge cigarette brand to distribute baseball cards in the late 1880s. The N172 set is one of the largest and most complex nineteenth-century issues, with hundreds of players and pose variations. Collectors treat it as the definitive pre-1900 baseball card set.

Legacy and modern reuse[2][3]

The original Goodwin & Company cards were produced for only a few years before the tobacco-card era changed. The Old Judge and Goodwin Champions names have since been reused by modern manufacturers, but the nineteenth-century N172 cards remain the reference point.

Timeline

Dated milestones with a source for each event. Hover a marker for the short label; the list below carries the detail.

Goodwin & Company timeline
Goodwin & Company timelineDated milestones in the history of Goodwin & Company.1875: Company activeCompany active18751886: Early baseball cardsEarly baseball cards18861887: N172 Old JudgeN172 Old Judge18871890: Production endsProduction ends1890
View timeline events
YearEventDetail
1875Company activeGoodwin & Company operates as a New York tobacco firm.
1886Early baseball cardsGoodwin begins issuing baseball cards through its cigarette brands.
1887N172 Old JudgeThe N172 set becomes the defining nineteenth-century baseball issue.
1890Production endsThe original tobacco-card era closes.
  1. 1875
    Company active[1]

    Goodwin & Company operates as a New York tobacco firm.

  2. 1886
    Early baseball cards[1]

    Goodwin begins issuing baseball cards through its cigarette brands.

  3. 1887
    N172 Old Judge[2]

    The N172 set becomes the defining nineteenth-century baseball issue.

  4. 1890
    Production ends[1]

    The original tobacco-card era closes.

Brand identity

Image archive

Local, provenance-recorded images. Captions and source credits are part of the record; a missing section is shown as an explicit gap rather than filled with a placeholder.

Card fronts & backs

Open the full gallery →
Joey Chestnut 2012 Goodwin Champions Baseball Card Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Champ
Card fronts · 2012Joey Chestnut 2012 Goodwin Champions Baseball Card Nathan's Hot Dog Eating ChampeBay listing image
Dan Brouthers HOF - 1888 Goodwin Champions Baseball Card- Authentic — reverse.
Card backs · 1888Dan Brouthers HOF - 1888 Goodwin Champions Baseball Card- Authentic — reverse.eBay listing image
Jake Beckley 2013 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions #157 Baseball Card - HOF (1971) — reverse.
Card backs · 2013Jake Beckley 2013 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions #157 Baseball Card - HOF (1971) — reverse.eBay listing image
Dan Brouthers HOF - 1888 Goodwin Champions Baseball Card- Authentic
Card fronts · 1888Dan Brouthers HOF - 1888 Goodwin Champions Baseball Card- AuthenticeBay listing image
Jake Beckley 2013 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions #157 Baseball Card - HOF (1971)
Card fronts · 2013Jake Beckley 2013 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions #157 Baseball Card - HOF (1971)eBay listing image

Notable sets

Notable sets
YearSetWhy it mattersSource
18871887-1890 N172 Old JudgeThe largest and most important nineteenth-century baseball card set.[2]
18881888 N162 Goodwin ChampionsA multi-sport companion set with the same lithographic quality.[2]

Grading notes

How this manufacturer's stock, cutting and production method affect the four grading pillars.

Condition scarcity[2]

N172 cards are thin, small and frequently trimmed or pasted into albums. Untouched examples are rare.

Back damage[2]

Album removal, glue residue and paper loss are common and usually cap the grade.

How to identify Goodwin & Company cards

1880s[1]

The Old Judge or Gypsy Queen brand appears on the back; the sepia photograph and small format are distinctive.

Modern[1]

Modern Goodwin Champions cards carry a modern copyright line and chromium or foil treatments.

Not sure which printing you have?

Upload a front and back photo and get an AI condition read plus identification evidence.

Grade & identify

Frequently asked questions

When did Goodwin & Company start making cards?

Goodwin & Company began issuing cards in 1886.

Who owns Goodwin & Company now?

Goodwin & Company is defunct; its brand assets have changed hands over time.

What is Goodwin & Company known for?

Goodwin & Company produced the N172 Old Judge set, the defining nineteenth-century baseball card issue.

Sources & methodology

Every factual claim in the profile is tied to the numbered sources below. Translated sources are tagged with their original language. Media provenance is recorded per image; images are stored locally and credited to their source.

  1. Wikipedia: Goodwin & Company (accessed 2026-11-07 · EN)
  2. PSA CardFacts: N172 Old Judge (accessed 2026-11-07 · EN)
  3. Wikipedia: Old Judge (accessed 2026-11-07 · EN)

Unverified or incomplete

  • Text-first draft; media, design evolution and people/place sections are pending.

Cite this profile

PreGradeCards Research. “Goodwin & Company.” Card Manufacturers Directory. Last verified 2026-11-07. https://pregradecards.com/manufacturers/goodwin-and-company

Found an error? Report a correction with the source you are relying on.