Dennis Joseph "Dan" Brouthers, 1st Base, Detroit Wolverines, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This is an Old Judge Cigarettes baseball card of Dan Brouthers, a first baseman for the Detroit Wolverines, made in the United States in 1887. These cards were produced during a time when the commercialization of sports was on the rise, and baseball was quickly becoming the nation’s favorite pastime. The image is simple but revealing. Brouthers is posed with his bat, a symbol of his profession. The backdrop, a blurry baseball field, gives context. However, the card’s main purpose was to promote Old Judge Cigarettes. This connection between sports and commerce was a new phenomenon, and baseball cards became a popular collectible item, contributing to the growth of both the sport and the tobacco industry. To fully understand this image, we need to research the history of baseball, advertising, and the cultural values of late 19th-century America. Only then can we appreciate the social forces that shaped this seemingly simple baseball card.