Ceiss, Pitcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This small baseball card was produced by Goodwin & Company of New York, around 1887 as part of a promotional campaign for Old Judge Cigarettes. It features Ceiss, a pitcher for the Chicago team, in full uniform, about to hurl a baseball with a determined gaze. These cards emerged in an era marked by rapid industrialization and urbanization, and as baseball was becoming a national pastime. But let's not overlook the less savory aspects of this seemingly innocent image. It’s deeply embedded in a culture of tobacco consumption at a time when the dangers were not fully understood. The card is a symbol of how sports, identity, and commerce were intertwined, and how companies profited from it. Think about the emotional experience of collecting these cards. The sense of community they fostered and the personal narratives of players like Ceiss that circulated through them. It served to develop a sense of belonging. In a way, this card functions as a mirror, reflecting both the aspirations and the contradictions of a society grappling with industrial growth and the formation of national identity. It's a reminder of the complexities inherent in even the most unassuming objects.