Dan Casey, Pitcher, Philadelphia, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a promotional card for Old Judge Cigarettes, produced by Goodwin & Company in 1888, featuring Dan Casey, a pitcher for Philadelphia. Made through the then-popular process of photolithography, a method of printing from a stone or metal plate, the image embodies the burgeoning culture of mass production. Consider the sheer volume of these cards, churned out to be included in cigarette packs: a direct embodiment of capitalist expansion, feeding into the intertwined habits of collecting, smoking, and baseball fandom. The card’s sepia tone lends it a nostalgic air, but its original context was one of aggressive marketing. The choice of baseball players as subjects speaks to the democratizing force of sport, aligning the cigarette brand with a wholesome, masculine ideal. The image itself is a study in contrasts: Casey’s determined gaze versus the ephemeral nature of the card, meant to be collected and traded. This seemingly simple piece of ephemera reveals a complex interplay between industry, leisure, and the construction of celebrity in the late 19th century.