Edward Enoch "Jersey" Bakely, Pitcher, Cleveland, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

Editor: Here we have an 1887 photographic print of Edward Enoch "Jersey" Bakely, a baseball pitcher for Cleveland. It was part of the "Old Judge" series of cigarette cards by Goodwin & Company. I find something so stoic about this early image of an athlete; it’s fascinating to see how commercial photography captured people in this era. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: I see more than just a baseball player. The way he holds the ball, almost protectively, isn’t that reminiscent of classical portraiture, of figures holding orbs or emblems of power? It reveals an interesting parallel between emerging celebrity culture and older symbolic traditions. What stories does it tell you about the changing iconography of masculinity? Editor: That's a compelling thought, relating it to older forms of power representation. I was focused on the advertising aspect and how it made it into popular culture, I missed those connections to art history! So you see that connection despite its creation for commercial purposes? Curator: Precisely! Think about it, though: tobacco companies weren't just selling cigarettes, they were selling aspiration, success. The baseball player, the athlete, becomes an icon—a potent symbol of strength, determination, and, dare I say, a certain American ideal. What values are visually linked to Bakely in your view? Editor: Success and aspiration. It's interesting how even in this very early form of advertising, it was using those concepts. This connection makes me realize how visual representation ties to enduring values. Curator: Indeed. This little card, distributed with cigarettes, serves as a time capsule of evolving ideals, still felt today. What an uncanny testament to the persuasive power of symbolic representation.