Charles Louis "Chief" Zimmer, Catcher, Cleveland, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1889

This baseball card, featuring Charles Louis "Chief" Zimmer, was made for Old Judge Cigarettes by Goodwin & Company. It’s a photographic print, likely an albumen silver print, which was a popular process in the late 19th century for its sharp detail. The card’s material and means of production speak volumes about its cultural significance. These cards were essentially advertisements, mass-produced and inserted into cigarette packs. The photographic process involved a lot of labor, from preparing the glass plate negatives to printing and cutting the final product. The rise of commercial photography was closely tied to consumer culture, and these baseball cards helped to fuel the growing popularity of the sport. The card represents an intersection of entertainment, commerce, and the industrial revolution. The image immortalizes a working-class hero. This unassuming card shows how deeply materials, making, and context are intertwined.