Michael Cornelius Dorgan, Right Field, New York, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This baseball card, featuring Michael Cornelius Dorgan, was made by Goodwin & Company in 1887 using photographic print on paper. This card is from the "Old Judge" series, which was distributed with Old Judge Cigarettes. The sepia tone and small size reflect the constraints of early photographic printing. These cards weren't exactly art, but mass-produced commercial items. The image has a grainy texture due to its age and the printing process used. Goodwin & Co. mass-produced these cards with the photos glued onto cardboard, in a similar way to how collectable cards are produced today. The purpose was simple: to encourage repeated consumption of the company's cigarettes. These cards blur the lines between art, commerce, and sport. They remind us that even everyday objects can carry cultural meaning, and the making of such commercial items is as relevant as the content depicted on them.