Jack McGeachey, Center Field, Indianapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This baseball card, part of the Old Judge series from 1887, was made by Goodwin & Company as a promotional item for their cigarettes. The image of Jack McGeachey was reproduced using photolithography, a technique that allowed for mass production. The process involved photographing McGeachey, transferring the image to a lithographic stone or metal plate, and then using ink to create multiple copies. This was a departure from earlier, more labor-intensive forms of image reproduction, and speaks to the rise of industrial capitalism and mass media at the time. The sepia tone, achieved through chemical processes, gives the card a sense of nostalgia, while its small size reflects its intended use as a collectible insert in cigarette packs. The card embodies the intersection of sports, commerce, and visual culture in late 19th-century America, blurring the lines between fine art and commercial ephemera.