Schwartwood, Right Field, Des Moines Prohibitionists, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This small card, made by Goodwin & Company in 1887, captures "Schwartwood, Right Field, Des Moines Prohibitionists" as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. But there is more than meets the eye here. The baseball card emerged during a period of intense social change, especially regarding industrialization and urbanization. This card, made to be collected, speaks to the rise of consumer culture and the increasing commercialization of leisure activities. While ostensibly about a baseball player, this photograph, reproduced en masse, intersects with questions of labor, health, and morality. It was the era of “separate spheres” and the rise of a “respectable” white, middle class. What narratives are we telling ourselves as a nation, and at what cost? This unassuming artifact invites us to consider how identity, commerce, and cultural ideals are deeply interwoven, challenging us to reflect on the values we uphold and the stories we choose to tell about ourselves.