Gantz, Catcher, Baltimore Orioles, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This photographic print of catcher Gantz of the Baltimore Orioles was made in the United States around 1888 by Goodwin & Company as part of their Old Judge Cigarettes series. At this time, baseball was becoming increasingly popular and commercial culture was expanding. These cards, inserted into cigarette packs, served as a novel form of advertising, linking athleticism and celebrity with tobacco consumption. The image itself presents Gantz in action, his stance and gaze directly engaging the viewer. This directness, combined with the card's function as a collectible, blurs the lines between sport, commerce, and personal identity. To fully understand these images, we turn to archives of baseball history, advertising, and the social history of collecting. This helps us consider not just the image itself, but its role in shaping cultural values and social practices at the time. What does it mean to commodify celebrity in this way? What does it tell us about the rise of mass culture and the institutions that support it?