William Henry "Bill" McClellan, 2nd Base, Denver, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

Editor: So, this is "William Henry 'Bill' McClellan, 2nd Base, Denver," from the Old Judge series, dating back to 1887. It's a collotype print – almost like a sepia-toned photograph. There's a real stillness about it, and the baseball player appears against this rather undefined background. What sort of atmosphere do you think it creates? Curator: A powerful one. Images of athletes, even then, were more than simple documentation. They're a celebration of skill, sure, but also of a specific kind of American masculinity at that moment in time. Look at the serious set of McClellan's face. What emotions does that strike in you? Editor: Determination, definitely. There is strength in his face, yet a bit formal and severe. Why capture baseball players like that, instead of game day moments? Curator: Exactly! By posing him so formally, they elevate him. The lack of dynamic action turns him into a symbol. Cigarette cards like these helped build a pantheon of sporting heroes and advertise a brand through celebrity endorsements, laying down the foundation of marketing using archetypes. These are, after all, images circulated with Old Judge cigarettes, aimed at crafting an image of success and masculinity associated with their brand. It says: Be like McClellan if you want to succeed. Do you think that message translates today? Editor: It's definitely aged, yet I can see it! Thinking of the product that’s connected to this picture offers insight into this historical celebrity, which at its root, aimed to project not just talent, but also aspirations. Curator: Indeed. So it captures more than just an image. It’s a cultural mirror! Editor: Fascinating to reflect on how those messages resonate even now. Curator: The language of iconography subtly perpetuates its own story across generations!