Hartman Louis "Doc" Oberlander, Pitcher, Syracuse, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This small photograph of Hartman Louis "Doc" Oberlander, a pitcher for Syracuse, was one of many inserted into Old Judge Cigarettes packs by Goodwin & Company in 1888. These cards were a form of advertising, yes, but they also reflect the growing popularity of baseball as a commercial spectator sport in the late 19th century United States. Produced during a period of rapid industrialization and urbanization, baseball offered a vision of American identity tied to ideals of athleticism, teamwork, and wholesome entertainment. The pose here, with Oberlander holding a bat, is somewhat staged, and the backdrop is an artificial landscape. But note the cigarette brand printed below the image. The association of baseball with a specific commodity speaks to the growing integration of commerce and leisure in American life. Historians of sport, advertising, and American culture can use these cards, along with other archival materials, to better understand the social forces that shaped both baseball and American identity during this era.