Frank Sylvester "Silver" Flint, Catcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This is a baseball card of Frank Sylvester "Silver" Flint, catcher for Chicago, produced by Goodwin & Company around 1887 as part of the "Old Judge Cigarettes" series. These cards represent an intriguing intersection of commerce, leisure, and the emerging cult of celebrity in late 19th-century America. Consider the social conditions that made such an object possible. The rise of mass media and consumer culture fueled the popularity of baseball cards as promotional items. Tobacco companies like Goodwin & Company sought to capitalize on baseball's growing popularity by including these cards in cigarette packs. This not only encouraged sales but also helped to normalize smoking. The imagery itself is carefully constructed. Flint is presented as a respectable figure, clean-shaven, and formally dressed. The image is a testament to the power of marketing to shape cultural values. Understanding this card requires research into baseball history, advertising techniques, and the social history of tobacco use. By examining these contexts, we gain insights into the complex forces that shaped American society during this period.