William "Bill" Robinson Bishop, Pitcher, Pittsburgh, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

Goodwin & Company created this small card in 1887 as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. It depicts William "Bill" Robinson Bishop, a pitcher for Pittsburgh. The image reflects the growing commercialization of baseball and the rise of celebrity culture in late 19th-century America. The card's sepia tone and formal composition evoke a sense of nostalgia, yet it was designed as a promotional item to be collected and traded. Note the explicit branding of the Old Judge Cigarettes company in the top right corner. The card’s existence speaks to the intertwined relationship between consumerism and leisure in this era. The fact that institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art collect and display them, tells us a lot about how cultural value can shift over time. Understanding the social context of this card requires us to consider the economic and cultural forces that shaped both baseball and the tobacco industry. Historical archives, newspapers, and advertising ephemera can all help us understand the significance of this seemingly simple image. Ultimately, it highlights how art and commerce often intersect to create lasting cultural artifacts.