Ed Morris, Pitcher, Pittsburgh, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This is Ed Morris, Pitcher, Pittsburgh, a small photographic print made by Goodwin & Company in the late 1880s as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. These cards weren't just about baseball; they were about crafting an image, both of the sport and its players. During this period, baseball was rapidly professionalizing, and these cards helped to build player recognition and fan engagement, but at what cost? Consider the implications of associating these athletes with a tobacco product, especially given what we know today about the health risks. What does it mean to commodify these figures, turning them into marketing tools? This card invites us to consider the complex relationships between sports, commerce, and the construction of identity in late 19th-century America. It is a reminder of how deeply intertwined our cultural narratives are with the forces of marketing and consumption.