Wells, Catcher, Kansas City Cowboys, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: Here we have "Wells, Catcher, Kansas City Cowboys" from 1888, part of the Old Judge series, which was made for Old Judge Cigarettes. It seems like a sepia-toned photograph of a baseball player. It is pretty cool. I mean, he’s literally holding a ball in his hand! What's your take on this piece? Curator: There’s a starkness to these portraits, isn't there? They aimed for a sense of 'authenticity', I imagine. Baseball was really finding its feet then, a sport emerging from folklore into organized leagues, and companies latched onto that heroic ideal. So it is as much advertisement as art, really. Editor: Heroic, yes, but also kind of...static. Was photography always like this back then? Curator: Remember the process. Exposure times were longer. Subjects needed to stay very still, not easy when you want action! But this stillness tells us something too, wouldn’t you say? Consider it: Baseball cards became a tangible slice of sporting history; tiny windows into the lives of athletes like Mr. Wells here. Editor: It is funny, the seriousness of the photo combined with the baseball card concept. It reminds me of a time when heroes were perhaps seen differently, you know? Curator: Perhaps... Or were packaged differently. What have we learned looking at this photo? Editor: To look for the unexpected! Beyond a baseball player's photo, a peek at cultural and business interests of the past. Curator: Exactly. Now, imagine trying to convince players they should be on a cigarette card in *our* day!