Thomas H. "Pat" Deasley, Catcher, New York, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This small photograph of Thomas H. "Pat" Deasley, catcher for the New Yorks, was made in 1887 by Goodwin & Company, for their "Old Judge Cigarettes" series. These cards are fascinating documents of the late 19th century. They reveal the growing popularity of baseball and the rise of celebrity culture, all under the auspices of a burgeoning tobacco industry. This was an era when advertising was rapidly evolving, and companies like Goodwin sought new ways to market their products by associating them with the popular sports of the day. The cards themselves were a form of early mass media, distributed widely and collected enthusiastically. They provide insights into the cultural values and social structures of a rapidly changing America. Studying such images involves delving into business records, sports archives, and the history of print media to fully grasp the complex interplay of commerce, culture, and leisure that shaped their production and consumption.