John Joseph "Joe" Gerhardt, 1st Base, Jersey City Skeeters, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This baseball card of John Joseph "Joe" Gerhardt was created around 1888 by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. Think about it: a baseball card included in a pack of cigarettes. It speaks volumes about the social fabric of the late 19th century and the intertwining of commerce, leisure, and addiction. These cards were not just about baseball; they were about crafting an image of idealized masculinity. Gerhardt is presented as an emblem of athleticism and respectability, yet this image exists within a context of tobacco use, a habit that was then being constructed as a marker of manliness and social status. The racial dimension is notable too. These early baseball cards largely featured white players, subtly reinforcing existing racial hierarchies at a time when the sport was becoming increasingly segregated. This card is a window into a world where sport, consumption, and identity were being forged, reflecting both the dreams and the deep-seated inequalities of the time.