John W. Shaw, Shortstop, Minneapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Curator: This small photographic print titled "John W. Shaw, Shortstop, Minneapolis," dates back to 1888. It's from the "Old Judge" series of baseball cards, a promotional item for Old Judge Cigarettes. What's your first reaction? Editor: The sepia tone gives it an aura of both antiquity and fragile perseverance, like an unearthed memory. The young player seems poised but world-weary, a dichotomy that’s very affecting. Curator: Indeed. It speaks volumes about early baseball as a working-class phenomenon. Shaw here represents a complex intersection of athleticism and nascent commercial culture. His image, linked to cigarettes, puts capitalism squarely in the frame, doesn't it? Editor: The baseball bat held close becomes almost like a scepter, but the branding undeniably tethers this athletic symbol to commercialism. Considering how photography has historically shaped perceptions, this is quite insightful about constructing ideals around athleticism. Curator: Absolutely. Consider how masculinity is constructed here, too, within both athletic prowess and commodity culture. Cigarette cards did a lot of heavy lifting regarding advertising at the time. It’s also worth remembering that Goodwin and Company used a variety of photographic processes for these cards, lending each one its own unique material presence. Editor: Yes, the print has a certain rough quality. I keep getting drawn to the detail on his clothing—the team name, "Minneapolis", stitched onto his shirt, along with the pads on his pants—all rendered visible through light and shadow. Curator: A study in contrasts, in a way, highlighting both the personal stories behind players and their appropriation into broader commercial and ideological frameworks. The mass dissemination of this image helped construct national heroes, but it did so via some very troubling associations. Editor: A perfect encapsulation of late 19th-century American ambition, commodification, and the dawn of celebrity culture. Thank you, that was truly revealing. Curator: A necessary intersection of sport and its surrounding narratives that are pertinent still today.