William T. "Red" Hanrahan, Shortstop, Minneapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: This is a photo of William T. "Red" Hanrahan, a shortstop for Minneapolis. The image, printed in 1888 by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes, is fascinating! It’s part portrait, part advertisement... What does this photo reveal to you about its cultural context? Curator: It's a baseball card, yes, but consider the role of visual media and emerging celebrity culture. Cigarette cards like this offer a glimpse into the popular obsessions of the late 19th century. Note the brand name: "Old Judge Cigarettes". Images become instruments for promoting a product. What were the intended audiences here? Editor: Baseball fans, clearly, but also...smokers? How does the baseball image connect to cigarettes? Curator: Precisely. The association is aspirational: virility, skill, athleticism. But consider who had access to these images, how they were circulated, and how these commodities played a role in shaping social status. The act of collecting these cards, often at the expense of the working class, demonstrates how cultural value intersects with consumerism and ideas about celebrity. What messages are conveyed about race or social class in baseball photography from this period? Editor: That's a good point! This particular photo, given it was made for an advertisement, presents a romanticized view, probably, with Red Hanrahan representing health and a certain kind of masculinity. Thank you – that really gives me something to think about! Curator: Of course. I’ve found considering visual culture in light of such history enriches my experience.