Elmer Ellsworth Cleveland, 3rd Base, Omaha Omahogs/ Lambs, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a photographic print of Elmer Ellsworth Cleveland, a baseball player, made circa 1887 in the United States by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. At the time, baseball cards like this one were commonly included in cigarette packs, serving as both a promotional item and a collectible. The image captures Cleveland, a third baseman for the Omaha Omahogs/Lambs, in a poised batting stance. Baseball emerged as a popular sport during the late 19th century and quickly became intertwined with American identity, reflecting values such as teamwork, competition, and physical prowess. The Goodwin company was a dominant producer of such ephemera, and through them we can see the consolidation of commercial culture in this period. Analyzing the cultural significance of this card involves understanding the rise of consumer culture, the role of sports in shaping national identity, and the marketing strategies employed by tobacco companies. By consulting historical archives, newspapers, and advertisements from the period, we can gain insight into the social and economic context in which this image was produced and consumed, and the role institutions like baseball played in American society.