Ad Gumbert, Pitcher, Chicago, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This albumen print of Ad Gumbert, a baseball pitcher for Chicago, was produced by Goodwin & Company as part of their Old Judge Cigarettes series. Here, photographic processes intersect with consumer culture. The print itself, made using a now-archaic method involving light-sensitive chemicals and egg whites, speaks to a particular moment in the history of mass media. Though each card appears simple, consider the labor involved, from the photographers to the factory workers assembling the cigarettes. The sepia tones and the careful posing of Gumbert give it a veneer of respectability, yet it was, in fact, a promotional tool, literally packaged with addictive substances. These cards weren't just about baseball; they were about branding, about aligning a product with the all-American image of sports heroes. By understanding the context of its production, we can see this image as more than just a portrait of an athlete, but as a fascinating artifact of industrial America.