Schoeneck, 1st Base, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a baseball card of Schoeneck, the 1st base for the Chicago Maroons, produced by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. Likely created around 1888, the card reflects the burgeoning commercialization of baseball and the use of athletes' images to sell products. During this period, baseball was becoming increasingly popular, yet racial segregation was deeply entrenched in American society. While baseball was marketed as ‘America’s pastime,’ opportunities for African American players were severely limited, with the color line firmly drawn across professional leagues. The lack of diversity in these early baseball cards serves as a stark reminder of the era's racial biases, and how cultural artifacts both reflect and perpetuate the social norms of their time. These cards, though small, encapsulate the complex interplay of sport, commerce, and identity in late 19th-century America. They prompt us to reflect on who gets to be seen, celebrated, and remembered in our cultural narratives.