Martin F. "Duck" Duke, Pitcher, Minneapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888 - 1889

This card featuring Martin F. "Duck" Duke was produced by Goodwin & Company around the late 19th century, as part of a series for Old Judge Cigarettes. The image is a photographic print, likely mass-produced using industrial printing methods of the time. What's striking is how this small piece of paper connects to broader issues of labor and consumption. It reflects the rise of both professional sports and mass marketing. The card served as a promotional item, incentivizing cigarette purchases while simultaneously popularizing baseball players like Duke. The image itself, with its sepia tones and straightforward composition, highlights the era's developing visual culture. It’s a moment when photography became integrated into everyday life, driven by commercial interests. Looking at this card, we can consider the labor involved in its production, from the photographers and printers to the factory workers who packaged the cigarettes with these cards inside. These may have been low-paid jobs. Ultimately, it asks us to think about how seemingly simple objects like this baseball card are tied to complex networks of production, promotion, and consumption.