George B. Treadway, Left Field, St. Paul Apostles, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

Curator: This photograph, dating to 1889, depicts George B. Treadway, a left fielder for the St. Paul Apostles. It comes from the Old Judge series of baseball cards produced by Goodwin & Company as promotional material for their cigarettes. Editor: The sepia tone gives it such a timeless quality. He looks so poised, almost melancholy, in his baseball attire. The entire composition feels both familiar and slightly surreal, doesn’t it? Curator: Indeed. Consider the societal context of its creation. Baseball was rapidly professionalizing, and figures like Treadway became cultural icons. Yet, these images, intended to promote tobacco, also highlight the intricate links between sports, industry, and early consumer culture, often driven by exploitation of the working class and normalizing dangerous products. Editor: Absolutely. But let’s also consider the visual language. Notice the ball floating suspended mid-air, right beside the bat—a classic symbol of readiness and latent potential. There’s a suggestion of action, a held breath before the swing. Is that a symbol for optimism for this baseball team, or optimism to draw cigarette consumers in, to hook them into this pastime? Curator: I think both, actually. But let's think of that “potential” in terms of larger socio-political metaphors—the Gilded Age boom, and, for whom that supposed rise included and excluded. This image, distributed so widely, perpetuated notions of ideal masculinity and sportsmanship—while eliding complex social issues. It is imperative to remember what messages they were sending by producing it as well, even if he does seem “poised”. Editor: I suppose I see less intentional messaging in these things. Rather, to me, the details carry powerful significance regardless. Take the placement of the words “Old Judge” above Treadway's name; that juxtaposition creates a relationship of authority, almost equating a player with "Old Judge". But regardless of these specific ads, I suppose, capitalism and social pressures had a part to play. Curator: I agree. When we examine this photograph of George Treadway with that deeper context in mind, we confront the layers of meaning inherent in what might first appear a straightforward depiction of a baseball player. Editor: And the echoes of those old symbols still reverberate in our own visual culture. This card becomes a microcosm of enduring aspirations, tensions, and desires in the American story.