Buckley, Catcher, Indianapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This photographic print of Buckley, a catcher for Indianapolis, was produced around 1888 by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. What is most interesting about this image is how it intersects with consumer culture. The company mass-produced these cards using photography, a relatively new technology at the time. Each card was inserted into cigarette packs as a collectible item, thus turning baseball players into commodities. Photography helped fuel the growing popularity of baseball, transforming it into a national spectacle. The image is mounted on card stock, with the player's name, team, and the cigarette brand prominently displayed. The image suggests the connections between sport, leisure, and the burgeoning culture of mass consumption in the late 19th century. We get a glimpse into how capitalism and leisure converged. By looking closely at the image as an object, we can recognize the ways in which the distinctions between art, commodity, and cultural artifact are blurred.