Fennelly, Shortstop, Philadelphia Athletics, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

Curator: Here we have a card from the Old Judge series, dating from 1887 to 1890. It features Fennelly, a shortstop for the Philadelphia Athletics. Goodwin & Company produced this albumen print as part of a larger set. Editor: It's striking how this small format elevates what would be considered today merely baseball ephemera. I'm struck by the sepia tones. It speaks to a moment where mass production began to merge with personal obsessions. Curator: Indeed. These cards offer insights into the cultural landscape of the late 19th century, highlighting the rise of baseball and the burgeoning celebrity culture surrounding its players. The fact it was included in cigarette packs underscores the commodity culture, and the pervasive marketing of the era. It’s important to consider the ethics of tobacco and its intersections with these budding sports figures. Editor: Absolutely. I’m also fascinated by the production process. Think about it—photographing Fennelly, making a negative, printing these on albumen paper—all these steps. The labor, the chemistry, all just to end up in a cigarette pack. This material transformation, this shift from an athlete to a tradeable object—it makes you wonder about the value we place on labor then, and now. Curator: That transformation really speaks volumes about the commodification of the athlete. How the card, the photograph, the image itself become symbolic capital within a network of industry and cultural value, and perhaps too, the construction of masculine ideals within the visual culture. The image functions as both a promotional item and a reflection of contemporary notions of athleticism and success. Editor: So true, seeing "Old Judge Cigarette Factory" stamped at the bottom really brings that home. It pushes us to think about where these images circulate and their embedded economic functions. Curator: Precisely. These small cards encapsulate larger narratives about capitalism, labor, and the evolving social values of the time. They’re much more than simple portraits of athletes. Editor: Definitely gives us much to consider.