James H. "Jim" Manning, Shortstop, Kansas City Cowboys, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a baseball card of James H. "Jim" Manning, a shortstop for the Kansas City Cowboys, created around 1888 by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. In the late 19th century, as baseball’s popularity surged, the mass production and distribution of these cards mirrored broader industrial and consumer trends. But this wasn’t just about sport; it was about constructing ideals of masculinity and national identity. Manning, a white athlete, became a symbol of American strength and vitality, a carefully curated image that implicitly excluded other narratives. While Manning’s individual story is highlighted, the absence of Black players in mainstream baseball due to segregation underscores the racial biases embedded in the sport. The commercial context of the card, linked to cigarette sales, raises questions about the ethics of promoting harmful products through beloved sports figures. It invites us to reflect on the personal and societal costs of such endorsements.