A Short Stop, from the Talk of the Diamond set (N135) issued by Duke Sons & Co., a branch of the American Tobacco Company 1888

This small chromolithograph "A Short Stop," was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co., a branch of the American Tobacco Company, around the turn of the century. What we have here is not just a simple celebration of baseball; it is a window into the marketing strategies of the time, and how they shaped the cultural landscape. These cards, inserted into cigarette packs, served to promote both a product and an ideal. Here, baseball is shown as a wholesome, all-American pastime, yet this imagery is intertwined with the promotion of tobacco. What does it mean to associate a children's sport with a product known for its addictive properties? What kind of narrative is being told? This work invites us to reflect on the messages we receive, and how they influence our perceptions of what is normal, desirable, and, ultimately, who we are.